Contributing Factors of Colonic Transit Time in Normal Adults

Park, In Suh; Lee, Hye Ree; Lee, Sang In; Kim, Ki Whang; Lee, Song Mi; Cho, Jun Sik; Pack, Hyo Jin; Choi, Joon Young; Cho, Hang Suk

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Measurement of colonic traznsit time with radio-opaque markers is used publically for diagnosis and treatment of the disease caused by constipation. It is well known that sex, age, and dietary fziber are contributing factors of colonic transit. On the other hand, the body mass index (BMI) affects only on the gastric motility. We aimed to clarify correlation between colonic transit time and sex, age, daily diet or BMI.
METHODS
Fifty-six healthy volunteers were studied (men 26, women 30, age 39.3+-15.6 years). The volunteers recorded the diet diary for 3 days. Then, on basis of the diet diary, we assessed the amount of carbohydrate, protein, fat, fiber, vitamin, minerals. Using the Metcalfs method, the colonic transit time was assessed.
RESULTS
Total colonic transit time was 26.6+-19.1 hrs (men 15.0+-12.9, women 35.9+-18.2). Men revealed a significantly shorter colonic transit time than women (p<0.05). There was a tendency to shorten colonic transit time with aging. BMI and the amount of carbohydrate, protein, fat, fiber, vitamin, and minerals showed no correlation with colonic transit time.
CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that women are found to have a significantly longer colonic transit time than men in the case of healthy normal adults, however the other factors including BMI and diet are not correlated with colonic transit time.