The DOI matches its Crossref record; 51 of the 52 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Fecal weight, colon cancer risk, and dietary intake of nonstarch polysaccharides (dietary fiber)
Open accessAbstract
Low fecal weight and slow bowel transit time are thought to be associated with bowel cancer risk, but few published data defining bowel habits in different communities exist. Therefore, data on stool weight were collected from 20 populations in 12 countries to define this risk more accurately, and the relationship between stool weight and dietary intake of nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP) (dietary fiber) was quantified. In 220 healthy U.K. adults undertaking careful fecal collections, median daily stool weight was 106 g/day (men, 104 g/day; women, 99 g/day; P = 0.02) and whole-gut transit time was 60 hours (men, 55 hours; women, 72 hours; P = 0.05); 17% of women, but only 1% of men, passed < 50 g stool/day. Data from other populations of the world show average stool weight to vary from 72 to 470 g/day and to be inversely related to colon cancer risk (r = -0.78). Meta-analysis of 11 studies in which daily fecal weight was measured accurately in 26 groups of people (n = 206) on controlled diets of known NSP content shows a significant correlation between fiber intake and mean daily stool weight (r = 0.84). Stool weight in many Westernized populations is low (80-120 g/day), and this is associated with increased colon cancer risk. Fecal output is increased by dietary NSP. Diets characterized by high NSP intake (approximately 18 g/day) are associated with stool weights of 150 g/day and should reduce the risk of bowel cancer.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The check wasn’t confident either way, so it gives no verdict — never disputed.
In the citing paper
“Nonetheless, it is unlikely to be true in most cases.”
From Human microbiome myths and misconceptions (2023) · cites this paper as [11]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe check wasn’t confident either way, so it gives no verdict — never disputed.
In the citing paper
“the total weight of the human microbiota is much more likely to be less than 500 g, and perhaps even considerably lower than this in some cases.”
From Human microbiome myths and misconceptions (2023) · cites this paper as [11]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
Cancer Incidence in Five Continents
Doll, R., Muir, C. S., & Waterhouse, J. A. H. (1970) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-85851-2 · Cited by 8,485
Diet, Nutrition, and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases
Zimmermann, M. B. (1994) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/60.4.644a · Cited by 2,131
EFFECT OF DIETARY FIBRE ON STOOLS AND TRANSIT-TIMES, AND ITS ROLE IN THE CAUSATION OF DISEASE
Burkitt, D. P., Walker, A. R. P., & Painter, N. S. (1972) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(72)92974-1 · Cited by 1,033
MacLennan, R., & Jensen, O. M. (1977) · PubMed · Cited by 685
Trock, B. J., Lanza, E., & Greenwald, P. (1990) · JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute · doi:10.1093/jnci/82.8.650 · Cited by 548
Mechanism of action of dietary fibre in the human colon
Stephen, A. M., & Cummings, J. H. (1980) · Nature · doi:10.1038/284283a0 · Cited by 503
Self-citationImproved Method for Measurement of Dietary Fiber as Non-Starch Polysaccharides in Plant Foods
Englyst, H. N., & Cummings, J. H. (1988) · Journal of AOAC INTERNATIONAL · doi:10.1093/jaoac/71.4.808 · Cited by 415
Self-citationCOLONIC RESPONSE TO DIETARY FIBRE FROM CARROT, CABBAGE, APPLE, BRAN, AND GUAR GUM
Cummings, J. H., Branch, W. J., Jenkins, D. J. A., Southgate, D. A. T., Houston, H., & James, W. P. T. (1978) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(78)90357-4 · Cited by 406
Self-citationCancer: causes, occurrence and control
(1991) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.29-0340 · Cited by 333
Bingham, S., & Cummings, J. (1985) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/42.6.1276 · Cited by 289
Self-citationCummings, J. H., Southgate, D. A. T., Branch, W. J., Wiggins, H. S., Houston, H., Jenkins, D. J. A., Jivraj, T., & Hill, M. J. (1979) · British Journal Of Nutrition · doi:10.1079/bjn19790062 · Cited by 284
Self-citationReddy, B. S., Hedges, A. R., Laakso, K., & Wynder, E. L. (1978) · Cancer · doi:10.1002/1097-0142(197812)42:6 · Cited by 257
Bowel function measurements of individuals with different eating patterns.
Davies, G. J., Crowder, M., Reid, B., & Dickerson, J. W. (1986) · Gut · doi:10.1136/gut.27.2.164 · Cited by 229
Colon carcinogens: Their metabolism and mode of action
Weisburger, J. H. (1971) · Cancer · doi:10.1002/1097-0142(197107)28:1 · Cited by 227
Damage to the innervation of the pelvic floor musculature in chronic constipation
Snooks, S. J., Barnes, P. R. H., Swash, M., & Henry, M. M. (1985) · Gastroenterology · doi:10.1016/0016-5085(85)90196-9 · Cited by 201
Effect of changing transit time on colonic microbial metabolism in man.
Stephen, A. M., Wiggins, H. S., & Cummings, J. H. (1987) · Gut · doi:10.1136/gut.28.5.601 · Cited by 181
Self-citationMarcus, S. N., & Heaton, K. W. (1986) · Gut · doi:10.1136/gut.27.5.550 · Cited by 179
Self-citationVariability of colonic function in healthy subjects.
Wyman, J. B., Heaton, K. W., Manning, A. P., & Wicks, A. C. B. (1978) · Gut · doi:10.1136/gut.19.2.146 · Cited by 166
Self-citation4 The Effect of Dietary Fiber on Fecal Weight and Composition
Cummings, J. H. (2001) · CRC Press eBooks · doi:10.1201/9781420038514.ch4.4 · Cited by 165
Self-citationKelsay, J., Behall, K. M., & Prather, E. S. (1978) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/31.7.1149 · Cited by 155
Stephen, A. M., Wiggins, H. S., Englyst, H. N., Cole, T. J., Wayman, B. J., & Cummings, J. H. (1986) · British Journal of Nutrition · doi:10.1079/bjn19860116 · Cited by 154
Self-citationBecker, J. (1973) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(73)92963-2 · Cited by 154
Dietary fibre (non‐starch polysaccharides) in fruit, vegetables and nuts
Englyst, H. N., Bingham, S. A., Runswick, S. A., Collinson, E., & Cummings, J. H. (1988) · Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics · doi:10.1111/j.1365-277x.1988.tb00197.x · Cited by 144
Self-citationEffect of bran particle size on stool weight.
Brodribb, A. J., & Groves, C. (1978) · Gut · doi:10.1136/gut.19.1.60 · Cited by 128
Dietary fibre (non‐starch polysaccharides) in cereal products
Englyst, H. N., Bingham, S. A., Runswick, S. A., Collinson, E., & Cummings, J. H. (1989) · Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics · doi:10.1111/j.1365-277x.1989.tb00028.x · Cited by 123
Self-citationEffect of exercise and physical fitness on large intestinal function
Bingham, S. A., & Cummings, J. H. (1989) · Gastroenterology · doi:10.1016/0016-5085(89)90381-8 · Cited by 122
Self-citationThe effects of a supplement of dietary fibre on faecal excretion by human subjects
Prynne, C. J., & Southgate, D. A. T. (1979) · British Journal Of Nutrition · doi:10.1079/bjn19790064 · Cited by 117
McMichael, A. J., & Potter, J. D. (1983) · American Journal of Epidemiology · doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a113672 · Cited by 101
Influence of refined cellulose on human bowel function and calcium and magnesium balance
Slavin, J. L., & Marlett, J. A. (1980) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/33.9.1932 · Cited by 92
The Large Intestine: Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Disease
(1992) · Annals of Internal Medicine · doi:10.7326/0003-4819-116-8-704_4 · Cited by 92
Bingham, S. A., Williams, D., & Cummings, J. H. (1985) · British Journal of Cancer · doi:10.1038/bjc.1985.207 · Cited by 88
Self-citationMetabolic Epidemiology of Large Bowel Cancer
Hill, M. J. (1981) · Cancer treatment and research · doi:10.1007/978-94-009-8255-0_8 · Cited by 87
Andersson, H. A., Nävert, B., Bingham, S. A., Englyst, H. N., & Cummings, J. H. (1983) · British Journal Of Nutrition · doi:10.1079/bjn19830121 · Cited by 79
Self-citationBOWEL TRANSIT-TIME AND STOOL WEIGHT IN POPULATIONS WITH DIFFERENT COLON-CANCER RISKS
Glober, G. A., Kamiyama, S., Nomura, A. M. Y., Shimada, A., & Abba, B. (1977) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(77)90120-9 · Cited by 69
Diet and transit through the gut
Cummings, J. H. (1978) · Journal of Plant Foods · doi:10.1080/0142968x.1978.11904206 · Cited by 64
Self-citationEastwood, M. A., Brydon, W. G., Baird, J. D., Elton, R. A., Helliwell, S., Smith, J., & Pritchard, J. L. (1984) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/40.3.628 · Cited by 55
Self-citationTanida, N., Hikasa, Y., Shimoyama, T., & Setchell, K. D. R. (1984) · Gut · doi:10.1136/gut.25.8.824 · Cited by 54
Metabolic Epidemiology of Colon Cancer
Reddy, B. S. (2015) · Frontiers of gastrointestinal research · doi:10.1159/000419495 · Cited by 53
DIET AND CANCER MORTALITY IN THE COUNTIES OF SWEDEN
Rosén, M., Nyström, L., & Wall, S. (1988) · American Journal of Epidemiology · doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114789 · Cited by 53
Irritable bowel-type symptoms in spontaneous and induced constipation.
Marcus, S. N., & Heaton, K. W. (1987) · Gut · doi:10.1136/gut.28.2.156 · Cited by 43
Self-citationEffects of high- and low-fiber diets on human feces
Beyer, P. L., & Flynn, M. A. (1978) · Journal of the American Dietetic Association · doi:10.1016/s0002-8223(21)05975-7 · Cited by 42
CYTOLOGICAL ABNORMALITIES IN NIPPLE ASPIRATES OF BREAST FLUID FROM WOMEN WITH SEVERE CONSTIPATION
Petrakis, N., & King, E. B. (1981) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(81)91441-0 · Cited by 27
Reddy, B. S., Ekelund, G. R., Bohe, M., Engle, A., & Domellöf, L. (1983) · Nutrition and Cancer · doi:10.1080/01635588309513776 · Cited by 26
Health aspects of excreta and sullage management : a state-of-the-art review
Feachem, R. G., Bradley, D. J., Garelick, H., & Mara, D. D. (1981) · Cited by 26
Human Nutrition: A Continuing Debate
Eastwood, M., Edwards, C., & Parry, D. A. (1992) · Cited by 13
Self-citationEffect of diet on fecal nutrients
Flynn, M. A., Gehrke, C. W., Maier, B. R., Tsutakawa, R. K., & Hentges, D. J. (1977) · Journal of the American Dietetic Association · doi:10.1016/s0002-8223(21)41064-3 · Cited by 13
Fecal weight, transit time, and recommendations for dietary fiber intake
Stasse-Wolthuis, M., Katan, M., & HAUTVAST, J. G. A. J. (1978) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/31.6.909 · Cited by 11
The relationship between stool weight and the lithocholate/deoxycholate ratio in faeces
Brydon, W. G., Eastwood, M. A., & Elton, R. (1988) · British Journal of Cancer · doi:10.1038/bjc.1988.145 · Cited by 9
Self-citationBingham, S. A., Ellul, A., Cummings, J. H., & O'Neill, I. K. (1992) · Carcinogenesis · doi:10.1093/carcin/13.4.683 · Cited by 8
Self-citationTowards a recommended intake of dietary fibre
Cummings, J. H., & Bingham, S. A. (1992) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4899-4495-5_7 · Cited by 2
Self-citationHydrophilic Colloids in Colonic Motility
Eastwood, M. A., & Smith, A. N. (1982) · Handbook of experimental pharmacology · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-68474-6_10 · Cited by 2
Self-citation
Research works printed but not linked: 5
- Pomare, 1981, Dietary fibre intake, stool weight and intestinal transit in four South Pacific populations (abstr), Aust NZ J Med, 11, 221
- Tarida, 1984, Faecal bile acids in adenomatous polyps, Gut, 25, 824
- 1982, Diet and large bowel cancer in Denmark and Finland, Nutr Cancer, 4, 1
- 1977, Dietary fibre, transit time, faecal bacteria, steroids, and colon cancer in two Scandinavian populations, Lancet, 2, 207
- Cummings, 1992, Laxative properties of resistant starches (abstr), Gastroenterology, 102, A548
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Revised Estimates for the Number of Human and Bacteria Cells in the Body
Sender, R., Fuchs, S., & Milo, R. (2016) · PLOS Biology · doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1002533 · Cited by 5,425
Stool form scale as a useful guide to intestinal transit time
Lewis, S. J., & Heaton, K. W. (1997) · Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology · doi:10.3109/00365529709011203 · Cited by 3,244
Self-citationTopping, D. L., & Clifton, P. M. (2001) · Physiological Reviews · doi:10.1152/physrev.2001.81.3.1031 · Cited by 3,091
Nasir, O. (2013) · Kidney & Blood Pressure Research · doi:10.1159/000350152 · Cited by 2,331
Detection of Various Microplastics in Human Stool
Schwabl, P., Köppel, S., Königshofer, P., Bucsics, T., Trauner, M., Reiberger, T., & Liebmann, B. (2019) · Annals of Internal Medicine · doi:10.7326/m19-0618 · Cited by 2,092
Metadata
- Authors
- Cummings, J. H., Bingham, S. A., Heaton, K. W., & Eastwood, M. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
- ORCID
- Cummings, John H.
- Venue
- Gastroenterology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1992-12
- Volume
- 103
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1783-1789
- ISSN
- 0016-5085 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1962918087
- Cited by
- 462
- References
- 52
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 19
- FWCI
- 8.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Gastroenterology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Food composition and properties
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
- Keywords
- fecal weight, colon cancer risk, non-starch polysaccharides, dietary fiber, bowel transit time, whole gut transit time, bowel habits, stool output, Western diet, cancer prevention
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Colonic Neoplasms, Constipation, Dietary Fiber, Feces, Female, Gastrointestinal Transit, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Risk, Sex Factors
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
