R. Meier et al., INFLUENCE OF AGE, GENDER, HORMONAL STATUS AND SMOKING-HABITS ON COLONIC TRANSIT-TIME, Neurogastroenterology and motility, 7(4), 1995, pp. 235-238
The factors that influence colonic transit time in healthy humans are
not yet clearly defined. The aim of this study was therefore to determ
ine (a) if there are differences in colonic transit time between men a
nd women and (b) if age, female hormonal status or smoking habits are
associated with alterations in these parameters. Colonic transit time
was measured in 164 asymptomatic subjects (80 males, 84 females) by a
radio-opaque marker technique with one single plain abdominal X-ray. C
olonic transit time was significantly shorter in men than in women (30
+/- 2 vs. 42 +/- 3 h, P < 0.05). Colonic transit time in non-smoking
males was significantly shorter compared with smoking males (26 +/- 2
vs. 40 +/- 5 h, P < 0.05). In females only height and menstrual cycle
influenced colonic transit times. We conclude that gender and smoking
habits should be considered when studying colonic transit time in heal
th and disease.