Adherence to the American Heart Association's Life's Simple 7 may help reduce chronic constipation and diarrhea, according to a new analysis.
Researchers used data from 12,912 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and found a statistically significant inverse relationship between Life's Simple 7 (LS7) adherence and gastrointestinal conditions.
Higher LS7 scores were linked to lower odds of chronic constipation (OR, 0.91) and chronic diarrhea in the crude model (OR, 0.88), though this association with diarrhea was attenuated and lost statistical significance in the fully adjusted model (OR, 0.96).
LS7 adherence—categorized as poor, intermediate, or ideal—was based on lifestyle factors including smoking status, physical activity, diet quality, BMI, blood pressure, blood glucose, and cholesterol levels. Survey-weighted logistic regression models, adjusted for demographic and health covariates, showed that individuals in the ideal LS7 group had a 28% lower risk of chronic diarrhea compared to the poor adherence group in the crude mode, though this trend became non-significant in the fully adjusted model (OR, 0.720). A similar trend was observed for constipation, though statistical significance varied across models.
Subgroup analyses indicated that men experienced a stronger protective effect against constipation, while the impact on diarrhea was more pronounced in younger adults and those without hypertension. Additionally, participants with a BMI below 30 kg/m² benefited more from LS7 adherence than those classified as obese.
Study exclusions included current pregnancy, colon cancer, and missing data on key variables including LS7, bowel health questionnaires, and relevant covariates, according to the study published in Frontiers in Medicine.
The findings align with existing research linking diet, physical activity, and metabolic health with bowel function. Prior studies suggested that fiber intake, hydration, and exercise promote regularity, while metabolic disorders like diabetes and hypertension may worsen gastrointestinal symptoms.
"As we move toward a more holistic approach to health care, integrating lifestyle modifications into clinical practice could lead to improved gastrointestinal health outcomes and a better quality of life for individuals at risk of chronic bowel disorders," noted Hongzhi Sun from The Third People's Hospital of Hefei, China, and colleagues.
The authors acknowledge several limitations, including the study's cross-sectional design, which limits causal inferences, and its reliance on self-reported stool habits, which may introduce bias. They also noted the lack of information on specific gastrointestinal conditions and medications that may affect bowel function. While LS7 was designed for cardiovascular health assessment, its application in gastrointestinal research remains emerging. Future longitudinal studies using validated diagnostic criteria, such as the Rome IV criteria for functional bowel disorders, could further clarify LS7's role in gut health.
The authors reported no competing interests.
