Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Bowel transit time - All Information

Definition of Bowel transit time:

Bowel transit time refers to how long it takes for the food to move from the mouth to the anus.

This article discusses the medical test used to determine bowel transit time.

How the test is performed:

You will be asked to swallow two gelatin capsules filled with carmine red or another food dye. You take the special capsules with a meal.

Afterwards, you observe your bowel movements and write down how long it takes for the colored dye to first appear. You'll also need to note how long it takes for the color to disappear from the stools.

How to prepare for the test:

No preparation is usually needed. However, you should follow any diet or other directions from the health care provider.

How the test will feel:

You will not feel the capsules move through your gastrointestinal system.

Why the test is performed:

The test helps determine bowel function.

Your doctor may ask you to record transit times as you introduce fiber into your diet. Your diet affects the bowel transit time. For example, if you eat a lot of foods rich in fiber (whole grains, vegetables, and fruits), you will have a more rapid transit time and a heavier, bulkier stool.

Normal Values:

The bowel transit time varies even in the same person. The first of the color should appear in the stool about 12 - 14 hours after it is taken. The last of the color will appear within 36 - 48 hours.

What abnormal results mean:

If the transit time is 72 hours or more, you may have slowed bowel function.

What the risks are:

There are no risks.

Special considerations:

The bowel transit time dye test is rarely performed these days.

Lower digestive anatomy

Reviewed last on: 7/7/2010
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Camilleri M. Disorders of gastrointestinal motility. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 138.

Fiber

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

Connect with UMMC

© 2011 University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). All rights reserved.
UMMC is a member of the University of Maryland Medical System,
22 S. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201. TDD: 1-800-735-2258 or 1.866.408.6885