Unexpected vitamin B1 connection emerges in genetic study of gut motility

Medical Xpress / CIC bioGUNE / Gut ^ | Jan. 20, 2026 | Mauro D'Amato et al

[ConservativeMind]

Bowel habits aren't exactly dinner-table talk. But they reflect how quickly the gut moves things along, and when that goes wrong, people can experience constipation, diarrhea, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

A study reports DNA clues to intestinal motility and spotlights vitamin B1 (thiamine) biology as an unexpected pathway for follow-up research.

A team coordinated by Mauro D'Amato used a large-scale genetics approach to search for common DNA differences associated with stool frequency.

They studied questionnaire and genetic data from 268,606 people of European and East Asian ancestry and used computational analyses to pinpoint which genes and mechanisms are most likely involved.

The analysis identified 21 regions of the human genome influencing bowel movement frequency, including 10 that had not been reported before.

Several of the genetic signals pointed to pathways and mechanisms already known to affect gut movement, which was reassuring because it means the results align with biology that makes sense. For example, the study highlighted bile-acid regulation (bile acids help digest fats and also act as signaling molecules in the gut) and nerve signaling relevant to intestinal muscle contractions (including acetylcholine-related signaling, which helps nerves communicate with muscle).

But the most striking result emerged when the team narrowed down their findings to two high-priority genes converging on vitamin B1 biology, specifically genes linked to how thiamine is transported and activated in the body (SLC35F3 and XPR1).

To explore whether this vitamin B1 signal shows up in real-world data, the researchers then turned to additional dietary information from UK Biobank.

In 98,449 participants, they found that higher dietary thiamine intake was associated with more frequent bowel movements. Importantly, the relationship between thiamine intake and bowel movement frequency differed depending on a person's genetic makeup.

The study also supports a meaningful biological overlap between bowel movement frequency and IBS.

---

TOPICS: Health/Medicine
KEYWORDS: b1; bowels; gitract; vitamins

[ConservativeMind]

Vitamin B1 can encourage bowel movement.

I can say when I take Benfotiamine, a derivative of thiamine, it does seem I head the to restroom more often.

[ConservativeMind]

The “Take Charge Of Your Health” Ping List
This high volume ping list is for health articles and studies which describe something you or your doctor, when informed, may be able to immediately implement for your benefit.

Email me to get on either the “Common/Top Issues” (20 - 25% fewer pings) or “Everything” list.

[Honorary Serb]

New!

[Scrambler Bob]

Is that why they named the Bomber, “B1?”

[imardmd1]

I take benfotiamine in the morning, vitamin B1 pi;;s in the evening. Seems like a good thing to do. I just ignore my NP primary advice to just take a B=comlex for all the Bs.

I also take B12 and B6 trying to get a handle on peripheral neuropathy, the sense of tingling insensitive fingertips as well as the sense of walking on pillows, difficulty in maintaining balance.

[Magic Fingers]

“I take benfotiamine in the morning, vitamin B1 pi;;s in the evening.”

Eh?

[imardmd1]

Mistype, my poor copy-reading performance.

.pi;;:s> pills (; is next to l on the keyboard)

Sorry for the confusion. My fingers not magic enough.