Correlation Between the Total Small Bowel Length and Anthropometric Measures in Living Humans: Cross-Sectional Study.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional observational study
PubMed 31686382 · doi:10.1007/s11695-019-04238-z
What was done
This cross-sectional study measured total small bowel length (TSBL) in 606 living adult participants (380 females and 226 males; mean age 39.8 ± 11 years, mean weight 135.7 ± 29.7 kg, mean height 165 ± 9 cm, mean BMI 49.5 ± 7.5 kg/m²) to determine anatomical variation and evaluate correlations with anthropometric parameters.
What was found
Mean TSBL was 630 ± 175 cm. TSBL was significantly longer in males (661.5 ± 186 cm) compared to females (612 ± 164 cm), with males also being taller and heavier. While a statistically significant positive correlation was observed between TSBL and both weight and height, it was very weak and not clinically important (exact correlation coefficients and p-values were not provided in the abstract).
Why it matters
This study provides reference ranges for total small bowel length in living humans and demonstrates that external body measurements cannot reliably estimate bowel length for bariatric surgical planning.
Limits
The cohort is restricted to individuals with severe obesity undergoing surgery (mean BMI ~49.5 kg/m²), limiting generalizability to normal-weight individuals. The abstract omits exact correlation coefficients, p-values, and details regarding intraoperative measurement technique.
Cited by
- supports The human small intestine is approximately 22 feet long.