Regular coffee consumption changes the composition of gut bacteria and the physiology of the digestive tract, researchers at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark have found. The drink not only boosts bacterial diversity but also stimulates contractions of the colon, helping to combat constipation, the website infohub.kz reports.
The findings were published in the scientific journal Gut Microbiology. During the experiment, Danish volunteers swallowed a miniature electronic capsule that, as it traveled through the gastrointestinal tract, measured transit time, temperature, acidity (pH) and contractions of the intestinal walls.
Participants were divided into coffee drinkers who consumed one to five cups a day on at least three of eight days, and those who drank it rarely. The data confirmed that regular coffee drinkers have a higher species diversity of gut microorganisms. In addition, the sensors recorded direct physiological changes: coffee drinkers had a significantly lower pH level in the small intestine, while the colon showed a marked increase in the frequency of muscle contractions.
As first author Francesca Bucci explained, active contractions support healthy digestion, train the muscle walls and help combat delayed bowel movements. The pH level in the small intestine also affects the activity of digestive enzymes and the breakdown of food components.
The head of the research team, associate professor Henrik Munk Roager, stressed that the drink's effect on motility was confirmed by objective sensors. The authors now plan to conduct clinical trials with controlled coffee intake to assess whether it could be used as a natural remedy for normalizing bowel movements.