Affiliation:
1. USDA Agricultural Research Service Western Human Nutrition Research Center, Davis, CA, USA
2. Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
Prior studies of adults with constipation or diarrhea suggest that dietary intake, physical activity, and stress may affect stool consistency. However, the influence of these factors is unresolved and has not been investigated in healthy adults.
Objectives
We assessed the relations of technician-scored stool consistency in healthy adults with self-reported diet, objectively monitored physical activity, and quantifiable markers of stress.
Methods
Stool consistency was scored by an independent technician using the Bristol Stool Form Scale (BSFS) to analyze samples provided by healthy adults, aged 18–65 y, BMI 18–44 kg/m2, in the USDA Nutritional Phenotyping Study (n = 364). A subset of participants (n = 109) were also asked to rate their sample using the BSFS. Dietary intake was assessed with two to three 24-h recalls completed at home and energy expenditure from physical activity was monitored using an accelerometer in the 7-d period preceding the stool collection. Stress was measured using the Wheaton Chronic Stress Inventory and allostatic load (AL). Statistical and machine learning analyses were conducted to determine which dietary, physiological, lifestyle, and stress factors differed by stool form.
Results
Technician-scored BSFS scores were significantly further (P = 0.003) from the central score (mean ± SEM distance: 1.41 ± 0.089) than the self-reported score (1.06 ± 0.086). Hard stool was associated with higher (P = 0.005) intake of saturated fat (13.8 ± 0.40 g/1000 kcal) than was normal stool (12.5 ± 0.30 g/1000 kcal). AL scores were lower for normal stool (2.49 ± 0.15) than for hard (3.07 ± 0.18) (P = 0.009) or soft stool (2.89 ± 0.18) (P = 0.049). Machine learning analyses revealed that various dietary components, physiological characteristics, and stress hormones predicted stool consistency.
Conclusions
Technician-scored stool consistency differed by dietary intake and stress hormones, but not by physical activity, in healthy adults.
This trial was registered at clincialtrials.gov as NCT02367287.
Funder
USDA Agricultural Research Service
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Subject
Nutrition and Dietetics,Medicine (miscellaneous)
Cited by
16 articles.
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