The Bowel Movement Monitoring (BoMoMo) Study (BoMoMo)

The Bowel Movement Monitoring (BoMoMo) Study: An Exploration of the Relationship Between Intake of Unrefined, Intact Plant Foods and Faecal Output

The link between what people eat and how it affects faecal output (poo) has been understudied. Most of the research that has looked at the link between diet, bowel movements and overall health has studied different types of fibre extracted from foods (e.g., fibre extracted from carrots), rather than foods in the form that they are consumed.

It is necessary for scientists to investigate the relationship between food as people usual eat it (e.g., a carrot) and bowel movements, as this information is key to understanding the relationship between what people eat and overall health.

The investigators would like to understand the relationship between intake of certain foods and faecal output. This will help to develop a chart, similar to the United Kingdom National Health Service urine colour hydration chart. The chart will allow people to know, by looking at their poo, whether they are eating enough of the foods that will keep them healthy. By monitoring and measuring participants' bowel movements, and providing information about diet, participants will provide the data we need for this research.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Dietary Exposure
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Diet

Detailed Description

Participants will complete a 5-day estimated food record and weigh, characterise and photograph each stool for 5 days.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 24

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Leeds, United Kingdom, LS1 3HE
    • Recruiting
    • Beverley O'Hara
    • Contact: Beverley O'Hara, Ph.D; Phone Number: 44 (0)113 8120000; Email: b.a.ohara@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
    • Contact: Angela Hill; Phone Number: 3240 44 (0)113 8123240; Email: a.hill@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
    • Sub-Investigator: Jordan D Beaumont, Ph.D

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy adults

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age: 18-60 years.
• Healthy as determined from self-reported medical history or when no relevant medical condition exists.
• Stool frequency of 3 to 21 times per week.
• Able to attend a session in person at City Campus or Headingley Campus, Leeds Beckett University, or City Campus, Sheffield Hallam University.
• For women: Use of contraceptive methods or not planning to become pregnant for the duration of the study.
• Able to understand and be willing to sign the informed consent form, and to follow all the study procedures and requirements.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Food allergy or intolerance
• Currently dieting to lose weight
• For women: Pregnancy, lactation
• Bowel disease
• Use of medicine causing constipation
• Abnormal gastro-intestinal (gut) function or structure such as malformation, angiodysplasia or active peptic ulcer
• History of gastro-intestinal surgery with permanent effect (e.g., surgical treatment of obesity)
• Active inflammatory bowel disease, coeliac disease, chronic pancreatitis, or other disorder potentially causing malabsorption
• Currently experiencing or been diagnosed with gastro-intestinal symptoms (e.g., abdominal pain/cramps, heartburn, stomach acid/reflux, nausea, vomiting, abdominal rumbling, bloating, belching, excess gas/wind)
• Active constipation (i.e., currently constipated).
• Active Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Currently experiencing disordered eating
• Current use of laxatives
• Current use or within the previous 3 months use of prescription or over-the-counter medication that has the potential of affecting gut bacteria including food supplements (specific medications will be assessed on an individual basis).
• Use of antibiotics or pain medication containing opiates or morphine currently or within the previous 3 months.
• Use of opioid drugs of abuse (e.g., heroin, fentanyl) currently or within the previous 3 months.
• Consumption of more than 21 units of alcohol per week (men)/ more than 14 unit of alcohol per week (women).
• Malignancy/cancer which is currently active or in remission for less than 2 years after treatment.
• Currently experiencing a psychiatric disorder or a condition related with your mental health that impacts on your daily life (e.g., major depression, bipolar disorders).
• Currently engaging in intense physical activity more than 3 times per week (assessed on an individual basis).
• Presenting a psychological or linguistic incapability to sign the informed consent/ Investigator considers the subject unlikely to comply with study procedures, restrictions, and requirements.
• Parallel participation in another research project which involves dietary intervention/other clinical trial.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Faecal weight	Average weight of faeces	5 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Faecal bulk	Volume of faeces	5 Days

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Time to pass stool	Number of seconds taken to pass stool	5 Days
Stool type	Average Bristol Stool Form Scale type (Type 1-7 nominal scale; types 3,4,5 are considered the 'normal range')	5 Days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Leeds Beckett University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 3, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 10, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): June 14, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 17, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 14, 2024
• Last Verified: June 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: BO01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No