GASTROENTEROLOGY
Vitamin B1 can help to lower constipation risk in adult patients
Greater dietary vitamin B1 intake was associated with a 23% reduction in constipation risk, a Chinese study found
July 22, 2024
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Increased dietary intake of vitamin B1 is associated with a lower prevalence of constipation, particularly among men and individuals without hypertension or diabetes, a study from Nanjing Medical University, in Wuxi, China has found.Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data from 2005-2010 involving 10,371 adults aged ≥ 20 years.Participants provided information on foecal characteristics and bowel movement frequency, which was documented for 30 days prior to data collection.Constipation was established by either frequency of bowel movements (fewer than three per week) or stool consistency (Bristol Stool Scale type 1 or 2).Data on vitamin B1 intake were collected through 24-hour total nutritional intake recall interviews. Patients were divided into three groups based on their level of B1 intake: 0.064-1.21 mg, 1.21-1.76 mg, and 1.76-12.61 mg.Overall, 10.8% of participants were identified as having constipation.Higher vitamin B1 intake correlated with a decrease in constipation occurrence. Constipation prevalence was 7.69% in the group with the highest B1 intake, 10.7% in the middle group, and 14.09% in the group with the lowest intake (P < .001).Greater dietary vitamin B1 intake was associated with a 23% reduction in constipation risk (P = .034).Additionally, a subgroup analysis found that higher B1 intake was associated with a reduction in constipation risk of 20% in men, 16% in people without hypertension, and 14% in those without diabetes.The study was published recently in the journal BMC Gastroenterology.