The study, published in Gut and described by ScienceAlert, is based on data from several previous studies involving thousands of participants, both healthy individuals and people with illnesses.
Researchers looked at diet, stool, and gut bacteria.
To measure how quickly food moves through the body, various methods were used.
These include small capsules with sensors, visual scales, and tests that track specific foods through the system.
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The aim is to determine how long contents remain in the large intestine, as this affects bacterial activity.
Differences in bacteria
The results show clear differences between people with fast and slow digestion.
According to the study, this knowledge provides a better picture of gut bacteria than diet alone.
Fast transit is often associated with bacteria that feed on carbohydrates. Slow transit, on the other hand, is more often linked to bacteria that use protein.
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Both extremes show reduced bacterial diversity, suggesting that certain types dominate in the gut.
What it means
Previous research has shown that slow digestion may be associated with conditions such as inflammation, metabolic disorders, and neurological diseases, including Parkinson’s disease.
At the same time, these differences may explain why the same diet does not work equally well for everyone.
The speed of digestion may be an important, but often overlooked, factor in health and treatment.
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Sources: ScienceAlert and Gut.
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