Association between lifestyle and faecal conditions: Examination of new era disease prevention by the visualization of intestinal flora

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K00944
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Eating habits
• Research Institution: National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition
• Principal Investigator: Motohiko Miyachi 国立研究開発法人医薬基盤・健康・栄養研究所, 国立健康・栄養研究所 身体活動研究部, 部長 (60229870)
• Research Collaborator: Murakami Haruka ; Ohno Harumi
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 糞便観察評価 / 疾病予防 / 生活習慣 / 腸内細菌叢

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Fecal volume, shape, color and odor are associated with illness, eating habits and intestinal flora. We developed and validated a card for comprehensive faecal assessment. In 38 healthy adults, observations of stool volume, form, color and odor using card were compared with objective evaluations by weighing scale, moisture meter, hardness meter, colorimeter and odor meter. The amount, shape and color of feces could be estimated by observation with a multi-faceted evaluation card. Moreover, in a cross-sectional study of 722 healthy Japanese, the enterobacterial community structure was associated with current living area, exercise habits, sedentary time, sleeping time, potassium and light vegetable intake, defecation frequency, and shape, color and quantity of feces.

Free Research Field

健康・スポーツ科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の結果、糞便状態の多面的観察評価が可能となり、糞便観察による腸内細菌叢のみえる化の可能性が示唆された。本研究成果は国際的な学術誌に論文公表され、カードは「腸みえるシート」として商標登録を完了した。腸内細菌叢は宿主である人の健康状態や摂食や身体活動といった行動に関連していることが明らかになりつつある。本研究の成果は、多くの国民が、糞便観察を通して、自身の健康状態や生活習慣、ならびにその変化を簡易に知ることを可能とする第一歩である。今後、腸内細菌叢に着目したより大規模で先端的な研究を進めるとともに、糞便観察アプリ・健康増進トイレなど開発を進め、健康寿命の延伸に貢献したい。