"I don't think I pass gas that often..." An average of 32 times!? "Smart underwear" that counts flatulence is turning conventional wisdom about the intestines on its head.

"I don't think I pass gas that often..." An average of 32 times!? "Smart underwear" that counts flatulence is turning conventional wisdom about the intestines on its head.

"How many times does a person fart in a day?"—This question, often seen as a trivial topic for small talk, has surprisingly remained "unresolved" in the fields of medicine and research. While there are standard values for blood sugar and cholesterol, defining what is "normal" for intestinal gas is difficult. The reason is simple: it couldn't be measured.


Recently, however, researchers at the University of Maryland have developed a system that continuously monitors gas release patterns by attaching a small device to underwear, presenting "objective data" for the first time. Brazil's InfoMoney introduced this study, reporting the number "32 times on average" and noting the extreme individual differences ranging from 4 to 59 times. The previously often-cited average of 14 times per day relied on self-reporting, which had limitations in accuracy.


From "14 times" to "32 times": Why did it double?

Past studies mainly relied on subjects counting themselves. However, counting every instance in daily life is not realistic. The criteria for considering small releases as "farts" were ambiguous and varied by person, and recording during sleep was impossible. Additionally, some studies used invasive methods like rectal tubes for measurement, making long-term and large-scale studies difficult. These circumstances likely led to "underestimated estimates," the researchers explained.


The key point of the new device is that data accumulates just by "wearing it while living." A small sensor is snap-attached to a designated position on the underwear, primarily detecting hydrogen (H₂) to read the fermentation activity of intestinal bacteria. Hydrogen is produced during the fermentation of dietary fiber by intestinal bacteria, so the timing of gas release provides clues about what is happening in the intestines.


Experiment details: 19 people for one week, an average of 32 times, with a 15-fold individual difference

According to InfoMoney, the research team tracked 19 people for one week, resulting in an average of 32 times per day. The range was wide, from a minimum of 4 times per day to a maximum of 59 times per day, and the discovery itself was that "it varies greatly by person."


Furthermore, when participants consumed inulin, a type of prebiotic fiber, an increase in gas was detected 3 to 4 hours after intake, demonstrating high accuracy in detecting changes (expressions and figures may vary by media).


When the flow of "what you eat → gas changes hours later" becomes visible, it can become more than just counting occurrences; it can serve as a "monitor of intestinal bacteria activity." For example, it could track reactions when increasing dietary fiber or whether symptoms worsen with specific carbohydrates, phenomena that were previously vague based on feeling alone.


"Human Flatus Atlas" concept: Classifying the "intestinal individuality" of those who produce gas and those who don't

The University of Maryland plans to use this research as a stepping stone for a larger data collection project called the "Human Flatus Atlas." The aim is to statistically define the "normal range" in adults and identify connections with diet and gut microbiota.


Proposed classifications include, for example, "Zen Digesters," who produce little gas even on a high-fiber diet, and "Hydrogen Hyperproducers," who produce a lot, as well as the middle ground. What's interesting here is the approach of not assuming "producing gas = bad" and instead exploring differences in intestinal adaptation and microbial activity.


Reactions on social media: Laughter, surprise, and a shift towards "gut health"

 

This topic is easily spread on social media because it has a strong theme.
In fact, Brazilian media and social media posts often highlight the research results as a surprise of "more than expected" alongside the question "How many times is normal?" Posts on Instagram also circulate with summaries like "people fart more than expected (or double)."


There are three main patterns of reactions.

1) "That many!?" type: The pleasure of having common sense shattered
The number 32 times on average has a strong impact when placed alongside the "commonly heard benchmark" of 14 times per day based on self-reporting. As a result, posts joking about the discrepancy with personal experiences, like "I must be less" or "No, on busy days, it's more," tend to increase. As the topic spreads, a "self-reporting battle" based on personal experience, typical of social media, occurs.


2) "Is it because of diet?" type: Shifting from laughter to gut health
Metrópoles introduces the research's aim as "measuring objectively" and notes that changes after inulin intake were detectable. Such explanations easily connect with "dietary fiber," "prebiotics," and "gut bacteria" on social media, branching from a joke to "gut health" discussions.


It is natural for interest to shift towards questions like "If it increases with food, what should I reduce?" or "Does it relate to lactose intolerance or SIBO?" (Note: This research does not directly establish a diagnosis for specific diseases).


3) "No way" type: Resistance to wearing and privacy concerns
On the other hand, reactions showing resistance to continuously collecting "quite private" data from the body are also common. Given the location of measurement, the sentiment of "The technology is amazing, but I don't want to wear it" coexists with laughter. Media headlines like "smart underwear" and "tracking farts" are strong and tend to provoke mixed reactions.


Can "frequency" become a health report card?

It's important to note here that "more frequency = illness" and "less frequency = health" cannot be simplified. Researchers aim to create standards precisely because there is no "normal standard," and at this stage, 32 times does not set a line between good and bad.


A high-fiber diet can easily become fermentation material for gut bacteria, and an increase in gas is quite possible. Conversely, for those who suffer from excessive gas, it could become a tool to distinguish whether the cause is diet-related, a microbial imbalance, or lifestyle rhythm. Thus, the value lies not in the "frequency itself" but in capturing deviations from "one's usual value."


Just as blood glucose monitors are operated based on "individual standards," in the future, intestinal gas might also develop "personal standards" like "you are generally within this range." As research progresses, the "fart," which was at the heart of jokes, may become treated as one of the daily vitals indicating gut microbiota activity—this news gives such an impression.


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