Writing in the journal Nature, Chinese researchers at Wuxi Medical Center of Nanjing Medical University and Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang analyzed bowel health data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The survey was conducted between 2005 and 2010.
“The present study showed a significant negative association between dietary copper intake and chronic constipation in adults,” the researchers wrote. “This finding raises clinical and healthcare professionals’ awareness of the impact of dietary trace elements on intestinal health and has important implications for the development of personalized meal plans and rational supplementation of trace copper in patients with constipation.”
An essential trace element
About 16% of people in North America suffer from constipation, which is often a symptom of chronic illness. Not all constipation is the same, as there are two categories of the condition. Functional constipation may be caused by non-organic lesions, as well as by bowel disorders and irritable bowel syndrome. The researchers explained that traumatic constipation can result from colorectal cancer surgery, spinal injuries or deformities “which is often manifested as prolonged intestinal transport time, impaired rectal and anal canal defecation reflexes, etc., and is mostly acute constipation related to nerve injury and intestinal obstruction at the relevant sites.”
It is recommended that adults consume .9 mg to 2 mg of copper, an essential trace element, each day. Copper is part of several biochemical processes, such as redox reactions, energy metabolism and mitochondrial respiration. Researchers are making more associations between chronic constipation and dietary micronutrients by analyzing the NHANES database.
The researchers noted that recent science is concluding that “the intake of an antioxidant-rich diet is essential for the prevention of constipation. This may be attributed to the role of oxidative stress.”
Oxidative stress impacts the gut microbiota and enteric nervous system, and in constipated individuals this means a significant reduction in the diversity of the gut microbiota and enteric neurons. Ultimately this results in weakened intestinal motility.
Study details
The researchers reviewed the survey results from 10,367 individuals included in NHANES whose average age was 49 years old. Participants had face-to-face interviews with an investigator at a mobile screening center, which was later followed by phone interviews. Participants took part in 24-hour dietary recalls.
After accounting for key demographics such as gender, age and ethnicity, as well as factors such as exercise, alcohol intake and dietary supplement use, approximately 11% of the participants, or about 1,122 people, were diagnosed with constipation. Women experienced constipation at a significantly higher rate compared to men.
“It can be seen that the inclusion criteria for the etiology of constipation and the definition of constipation are different in different populations, and therefore the risk factors for constipation in different populations need to be further expanded and investigated,” the researchers noted.
They showed that for each unit increase in dietary copper consumption there was a 20% reduction in prevalence of constipation. The median dietary copper intake was much higher in the non-constipated group as compared to the constipated participants.
“Our findings indicate that higher dietary copper intake is associated with a reduced risk of constipation, demonstrating a significant inverse dose–response relationship,” the study concluded. “This significant finding raises the awareness of clinical and healthcare practitioners about the impact of dietary trace elements on intestinal health, helps clinical and healthcare practitioners to understand the impact of dietary trace elements on intestinal health and is of great significance for the development of personalized dietary regimens and rational supplementation of trace copper elements for patients with constipation.”
Source: Nature
doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-70331-8
“Association between dietary copper intake and constipation in US adults”
Authors: Wenyi Du et al.