Common vitamins found in everyday foods may influence how often people go to the bathroom, according to a large new study.
Researchers have found that vitamin B1, also known as thiamin, intestinal motilitywhich is the process of moving food through the digestive system.
International team — led by Professor Mauro D’Amato medical genetics According to a press release, LUM University professors and CIC bioGUNE research professors analyzed genetic and health data of more than 268,000 people of European and East Asian descent.
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Participants reported how often they went to the bathroom, which the researchers used as a practical measure of intestinal motility.
“we genetics used Build a roadmap for the biological pathways that set the pace for your gut. What was striking was how strongly the data showed vitamin B1 metabolism with established mechanisms,” said lead author Cristian Díaz Muñoz, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher in the Gastrointestinal Genetics Laboratory at CIC bioGUNE at the Biscaia Science and Technology Park in Spain, in a release.
B1, also known as thiamin, intestinal motilitywhich is the process of moving food through the digestive system. By scanning millions of genetic markers, the researchers identified 21 genetic regions associated with bowel frequency, including genetic regions not previously associated with digestive function.
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Many of the signals represent pathways already known to be important for digestion, such as bile acid metabolism and nerve signaling, which control the rhythmic contractions of the intestinal muscles, the statement said.
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The most unexpected discovery concerned genes related to thiamine metabolism. Two genes specifically help with transport and regulation. Vitamin B1 In the body, a strong relationship was shown with defecation frequency.
Researchers conducted a study to find out whether this was reflected in everyday behavior. Meal data Data from approximately 100,000 participants in the UK Biobank.
Researchers found that people who took in more vitamin B1 tended to have more frequent bowel movements.
However, this relationship was not observed in all cases. This effect varies depending on an individual’s genetic makeup, suggesting that genes are involved in the body’s processing of the vitamin.
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According to the National Institutes of Health, vitamin B1 plays a central role in energy metabolism and neurological function, including the nerves and muscles that regulate intestinal movement.
The study, published in the scientific journal Gut, had several limitations.
The researchers acknowledged that frequency is an indirect measure of intestinal motility and does not capture stool consistency, discomfort, or other symptoms associated with gastrointestinal disease.
The study also relies on self-reported dietary data, which can be inaccurate.
The researchers noted that genetic associations do not prove cause and effect.
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The results do not conclusively show that taking vitamin B1 supplements changes bowel habits, nor do they establish the biological pathway by which thiamine affects digestion.
People with digestive problems should consult a doctor for guidance.
