A case of prolonged, chronic constipation was terminated by the simple removal of all forms of red meat from the individual’s diet. The ease with which red meat can alter defecation time can be confirmed focuses on the striking overlap between the demography of constipation and colonic cancer. These two pieces of epidemiologic data have put into question the existence of a common genesis.

The word constipation delineates a medical condition with a limited differential diagnosis as to causation. Once those documentable causes of delayed fecal evacuation are eliminated, there remains a large number of cases for which there is no defined pathogenesis [1, 2]. Within industrialized nations, constipation is so common as to be accepted as a normal variant. The collective knowledge deficit as to causation is warehoused under such terms as chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC), irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) or fecal retention syndrome (FRS). The ability to pharmaceutically plicate the problem has left the embedded issues of causation unaddressed. The annual sales of non-prescription-laxatives, enemas, per oral fiber supplementation and suppositories constitute a one billion-dollar business.

In the United States, constipation is the most common gastrointestinal complaint [3]. In contrast to nations whose diet is primarily plantbased, constipation is an uncommon condition. An experiment in nature, personally noted, opens to speculation whether consumption of red meat may alert defecation dynamics. If so, that fact may contribute for the overlapping epidemiology of constipation and colonic cancer.

Gut and Gastroenterology

Chronic Constipation and Red Meat?

Will be updated soon