The secret to constipation: Study reveals the best diet for middle-aged and older adults.

A new study by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Massachusetts has identified which dietary patterns are most effective in preventing chronic constipation in middle-aged and older adults. According to the results, published in the journal Gastroenterology , people who followed a Mediterranean or plant-based diet were less likely to develop this gastrointestinal condition.

"Chronic constipation affects millions of people and can significantly impact their quality of life," said study senior author Dr. Kyle Staller, MPH, a member of the Division of Gastroenterology at Massachusetts General Hospital.

"Our findings suggest that, as we age, certain healthy diets may provide benefits to our gut, in addition to the well-known cardiovascular benefits."

The observational study included data from more than 96,000 adults followed over several years, with the aim of analyzing how different dietary habits influenced the risk of developing chronic constipation. The data came from three large follow-up databases: the Nurses' Health Study, the Nurses' Health Study II, and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.

Researchers defined chronic constipation as the presence of symptoms for at least 12 weeks over a one-year period.

The analysis included five types of diets: Mediterranean, plant-based, low-carb, Western, and inflammatory. Participants who followed either a Mediterranean or plant-based diet had a lower risk of developing chronic constipation.

In contrast, people who followed a Western or inflammatory diet were more likely to develop the condition. Researchers also found that the low-carb diet had no clear effect on the onset of constipation.

"We've always assumed that the benefits of a healthy diet are due to fiber, but our analyses showed that the benefit of these healthy diets on constipation is independent of fiber intake ," says Staller.

"Our findings suggest that a diet rich in vegetables, nuts, and healthy fats may help prevent chronic constipation in middle-aged and older adults," the researcher concludes.

*This content was rewritten with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on information from Europa Press, and reviewed by the journalist and an editor.