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France says it has 'no desire' to boycott World Cup amid US-Greenland deal 'framework'
France's sports minister addressed questions about whether the country would consider boycotting the 2026 FIFA World Cup in response to the U.S.'s recent deal ‘framework’ for control of part of Greenland.
French Minister of Sports, Youth and Community Life Marina Ferrari told reporters this week that the country currently has "no desire" to skip the cup, set to take place in North America this year. Still, she admitted she's heard voices raised from "certain political blocs."
"As it stands now, there is no desire from the ministry for a boycott of this great competition," Ferrari said. "Now, I will not anticipate what could happen, but I have also heard voices raised from certain political blocs. I am one who believes in keeping sport separate [from politics]. The World Cup is an extremely important moment for those who love sport."
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Meanwhile, far-left French politician Éric Coquerel has called for the U.S. to be stripped of World Cup hosting rights, and has suggested a boycott by France.
"Seriously one imagines going to play the World Cup in a country who attacks its ‘neighbours,’ threatens to invade Greenland and rides rough shod over international law," Coquerel told reporters.
Trump announced on Truth Social on Wednesday that the framework for a deal has been made for the U.S. to gain control of parts of Greenland.
"Based upon a very productive meeting that I have had with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, we have formed the framework of a future deal with respect to Greenland and, in fact, the entire Arctic Region," he wrote.
STATE DEPT TO START ROLLING OUT FIFA PASS FOR FOREIGN SOCCER FANS LOOKING TO ATTEND WORLD CUP IN US
"This solution, if consummated, will be a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations," Trump wrote in the post. "Based upon this understanding, I will not be imposing the Tariffs that were scheduled to go into effect on February 1st. Additional discussions are being held concerning The Golden Dome as it pertains to Greenland."
During a speech at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Switzerland on Thursday, Trump seemed to indicate that he would not use force to seize Greenland.
Despite similar calls for sanctions in response to Trump's foreign policy, the U.S. has not been penalized by any major sports bodies for its recent ility intervention in Venezuela either.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has responded to calls to exclude the U.S. and its athletes from the upcoming Winter Olympics over the intervention in Venezuela. The committee ruled out any penalty on the U.S.
"As a global organization, the IOC has to manage a complex reality. The IOC has to deal with the current political context and the latest developments in the world," the IOC said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital. "The ability to bring athletes together, no matter where they come from, is fundamental to the future of values-based, truly global sport, which can give hope to the world. For this reason, the IOC cannot involve itself directly in political matters or conflicts between countries, as these fall outside our remit. This is the realm of politics."
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Former NFL defensive lineman stabbed to death in Los Angeles, records show
Kevin Johnson, a former NFL defensive lineman who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders in the 1990s, was stabbed to death in Los Angeles, authorities said. He was 55.
Johnson’s body was discovered at a homeless encampment Wednesday, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The cause of death was listed as blunt head trauma and stab wounds, records showed.
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His death was being investigated as a homicide. Fox News Digital reached out to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for further comment.
"Unfortunately, it appears he was homeless," Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Steve De Jong told Newsweek. "It looks like he was probably living there."
Johnson’s friends and family mourned him on social media.
FBI PROBES JIM IRSAY DEATH OVER PRESCRIPTION DRUGS, KETAMINE USE AND DOCTOR RELATIONSHIP: REPORT
He was a standout at Texas Southern before he was selected in the fourth round by the New England Patriots in 1993. He never played a down with the Patriots and didn’t appear in an NFL game until 1995, when he was with the Eagles.
He played 23 games for the Eagles over two seasons. He recorded 43 tackles and seven sacks and returned one fumble for a touchdown.
Johnson joined the Raiders in 1997 and had 11 tackles in 15 games.
The defensive tackle took a chance at Arena Football when his time in the NFL was over. He played on both sides of the ball for the Orlando Predators and helped them to an ArenaBowl championship in 1998. He later played for the Los Angeles Avengers.
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ISIS fighters still at large after Syrian prison break, contributing to volatile security situation
Some ISIS prisoners who escaped from a prison in northeastern Syria Jan. 19 are still unaccounted for after the ensuing chaos made tracking some of the fighters "impossible," an analyst familiar with the situation claimed.
And as U.S. forces move to transfer thousands of male militants from the region to Iraq, the wives of ISIS fighters have been left behind in what he described as "fragile" detention camps.
"Damascus claims most of the escapees were recaptured, but some remain at large," Syria analyst Nanar Hawach told Fox News Digital.
"The exact number unaccounted for is unclear because the chaos made tracking them all impossible," said Hawach of the International Crisis Group.
IRAN EXPANDS IT ‘SHADOW EMPIRE’ ACROSS MIDDLE EAST AS TRUMP PULLS TROOPS FROM IRAQ, SYRIA
"The U.S. transfer to Iraq covers male detainees from prisons, but those detained in camps remain in Syria under Damascus’ control."
U.S. Central Command confirmed Jan. 21 that it had begun transferring ISIS prisoners to Iraqi-controlled centers as an emergency effort to prevent a resurgence of the terror group amid deteriorating security conditions.
The move followed the prison escape at a detention center in Hasakah province during clashes between Syrian government forces and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces.
Militants broke out during the unrest, and while many were later recaptured, the full scope of the escape remains unclear.
U.S. forces have already transported roughly 150 ISIS fighters from a detention center in Hasakah to secure locations in Iraq, according to CENTCOM, which said as many as 7,000 detainees could be transferred.
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An Iraqi intelligence general told The Associated Press Jan. 21 that Iraqi authorities received an initial batch of 144 detainees, with additional transfers planned by aircraft.
"The U.S. is facilitating transfers to Iraqi custody as an emergency measure because of the unstable security situation in northeast Syria," Hawach said, noting that Iraq’s secure prisons "reduce the risk of further mass breakouts."
"Human rights organizations have raised concerns about trial procedures in Iraq, but the priority right now is preventing escapes, and Iraq can deliver that."
Hawach emphasized that the transfers apply only to male fighters held in prisons, not to women and children confined in camps such as the notorious al-Hawl.
TURKEY SAYS SYRIA USING FORCE IS AN OPTION AGAINST US-BACKED FIGHTERS WHO HELPED DEFEAT ISIS
Al-Hawl camp has held tens of thousands of ISIS-affiliated women and children since the group’s territorial defeat in 2019.
"Women and children are held in camps, not prisons, and are processed differently than male fighters," Hawach said.
"The long-term solution for women and children is repatriation to their home countries, but most governments have been reluctant.
"Some women are ideologically committed; some are not. Distinguishing between them requires case-by-case assessments that haven’t happened at scale."
Still, Hawach warned, the deeper problem remains unresolved.
"The detention system was always fragile, always underfunded, always a temporary solution waiting for permanent answers," he said.
"The transfers to Iraq address the immediate crisis but don’t solve the underlying problem of what to do with this population long-term."
U.S. special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said this week that "the original purpose of the SDF as the primary anti-ISIS force on the ground has largely expired, as Damascus is now both willing and positioned to take over security responsibilities, including control of ISIS detention facilities and camps."
Indiana's D'Angelo Ponds reacts to Miami's Mark Fletcher Jr throwing punch after championship loss: 'Shocked'
As someone who grew up with Miami Hurricanes star running back Mark Fletcher Jr., Indiana cornerback D'Angelo Ponds was surprised to see him in an altercation with his Hoosiers teammate.
The Hoosiers made history Monday night, defeating the Hurricanes to complete the first-ever 16-0 season in college football. It was Jamari Sharpe, Ponds' teammate, a fellow cornerback and another football player he grew up with in the Miami area, who secured the game-winning interception of quarterback Carson Beck at Hard Rock Stadium.
Following the game, the ESPN broadcast picked up an altercation in which Fletcher, who had two touchdowns for Miami in the 27-21 loss, threw a punch at Hoosiers' Tyrique Tucker. It may have escalated even more if Hurricanes teammates and staff members didn't hold back Fletcher as the celebration ensued for the Hoosiers.
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Ponds was on hand with Sharpe and Hoosiers receiver Elijah Sarratt for a celebratory "shift" at Raising Cane's in Bloomington, Indiana. And before he met with the raucous fans outside, he spoke with Fox News Digital about that moment with Fletcher and Tucker.
"Those guys that were going at it, that’s a guy that I knew growing up and things like that," Ponds said of Fletcher, who attended American Heritage high school in Plantation, Florida, just a half hour away from Ponds' Chaminade-Madonna Prep.
"I don’t know the full story on that. Definitely was shocked from that guy because that’s a guy I knew growing up."
DETAILS EMERGE AFTER MIAMI STAR SEEN THROWING PUNCH AT INDIANA PLAYER FOLLOWING NATIONAL TITLE LOSS
Ponds implied this was out of character for Fletcher, one of the Hurricanes’ leaders who helped them reach the College Football Playoff national championship game.
Tucker was accused of making a remark about Fletcher’s deceased father after the Hoosiers’ victory. Mike Rumph, Miami’s director of recruiting, alleged in a comment on Instagram that Tucker made the comment.
"Dude was talking about Mark’s dad who passed away last year. Mark is and always will be one of the most classy people you will meet. RIP Mr. Fletcher," Rumph wrote.
Tucker had a different story about what happened.
"I was just trying to congratulate him on the game," he told The Herald-Times. "He tried to sneak me. Everybody kind of held me back. That was a cheap punch. Luckily, we got the win. I'm not really too worried about it. He's salty. He going home with the L."
Tucker apparently wanted to congratulate Fletcher on his two-touchdown performance before things went awry, according to The Herald-Times. He said he didn’t say anything to him.
Fletcher has yet to comment on the incident.
In lighter news, Ponds also told reporters Thursday at the Raising Cane’s in Bloomington, Indiana, that he plans on entering the 2026 NFL Draft.
"I haven’t officially announced it," he said, "but yeah, that’s the plan."
Ponds, a 5-foot-9, 173-pound cornerback, is projected to be a second-day pick this April by draft experts.
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Former Des Moines schools chief pleads guilty to falsely claiming US citizenship and gun charge
The former superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district pleaded guilty Thursday to two federal charges, including falsely claiming to be a U.S. citizen.
Ian Andre Roberts, a native of Guyana in South America, was the leader of Des Moines Public Schools. He also admitted to being an illegal alien in possession of guns.
Federal immigration officers detained Roberts Sept. 26, 2025, and he resigned from the district’s top post shortly after.
Under the terms of the plea agreement, Roberts acknowledged possessing four guns, including a loaded Glock handgun found in his vehicle at the time of his arrest, along with a rifle, a shotgun and another pistol recovered during a search of his home.
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Court records say all the guns were moved across state lines, giving federal authorities jurisdiction. Roberts has agreed to permanently forfeit the weapons and waived any right to challenge the forfeiture now or in the future.
Roberts initially pleaded not guilty and was scheduled to stand trial in March. His guilty plea now exposes him to a combined maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison on the two charges.
The agreement also states Roberts understands he could be deported following completion of any sentence. A sentencing date has not yet been set, and prosecutors agreed not to pursue additional charges.
MARYLAND DODGES SPECIFICS IN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT VOTER-ROLL CASE AS CONGRESS VOWS TO KEEP DIGGING
The Department of Homeland Security previously said Roberts has an extensive criminal history involving drug and weapons offenses.
"Ian Andre Roberts, a criminal illegal alien with multiple weapons charges and a drug trafficking charge, should have never been able to work around children," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said at the time of his arrest. "When ICE officers arrested this superintendent, he was in possession of an illegal handgun, a hunting knife, and nearly $3,000 in cash."
A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Roberts in October. According to court records, Roberts admitted he knowingly and intentionally made a "false attestation" on an employment eligibility verification form, known as an I-9, submitted in Des Moines, claiming he was a U.S. citizen.
District officials said Roberts completed the I-9 when he was hired in 2023, submitting a Social Security card and a driver’s license as documentation. He also claimed U.S. citizenship in an application to the state board of educational examiners, which issued him a professional administrator license that year.
Authorities said Roberts was issued a notice to appear before an immigration judge in October 2020, months before his work authorization expired, and was later subject to a final order of removal in 2024. District officials told The Associated Press they were unaware of any immigration-related issues involving Roberts.
Alfredo Parrish, one of Roberts’ attorneys, has said his client believed, based on advice from a previous lawyer, that his immigration case had been "resolved successfully."
Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman, Louis Casiano and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
CBS reporter explodes at top editor during heated meeting over long-delayed 'Inside CECOT' segment: report
Sharyn Alfonsi, a "60 Minutes" reporter, reportedly berated one of CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss' closest allies at the network during a heated meeting about her delayed report about the notorious El Salvador prison CECOT.
Alfonsi, a longtime correspondent for the newsmagazine, sent a note to colleagues fuming over the late December decision by Weiss to hold the story, "Inside CECOT," claiming it was done for political rather than editorial reasons.
Weiss insisted it lacked key context and needed additional reporting, but she gave it the green light to air with a few minor tweaks during last Sunday’s episode.
Puck’s Dylan Byers reported on Wednesday that, despite weeks of bickering through intermediaries, Weiss and Alfonsi had not met in person until the week before the segment finally aired.
"Sharyn seemed angry and annoyed throughout the meeting and resistant to any input," Byers wrote, citing "multiple sources."
Alfonsi then reportedly snapped at deputy editor Adam Rubenstein, a former New York Times opinion editor who Weiss brought to CBS and also works for The Free Press.
Rubenstein offered feedback on the controversial segment when Alfonsi yelled, "You don’t get to produce me," according to Byers.
'60 MINUTES' AIRS LONG-DELAYED 'INSIDE CECOT' SEGMENT AFTER BEING PULLED BY BARI WEISS
"She then accused him of being ‘a mouthpiece' for the administration and asked him whether he had ever produced a minute of television news before. He said he had and urged her not to take anything personally, at which point Sharyn almost left the room," Byers wrote.
Alfonsi was unable to get a comment from the Trump administration. She did add more context to her in-studio outro to include data and information that Weiss had requested. The initial version went viral online after it accidentaly aired in Canada.
CBS News did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Alfonsi is no stranger to controversy. She came under fire in 2021 for a "60 Minutes" segment in which she challenged Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and painted a narrative that he had given supermarket chain Publix preferential treatment on distributing COVID vaccines because its PAC had donated $100,000 to his campaign.
However, the story came under significant criticism, including from Democrats like Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz. Publix had more than 800 locations in the state, making it an ideal location for distributing the vaccines to a state with a high senior population.
Publix fired back against the notion that it essentially bribed DeSantis, calling the suggestion "false and offensive."
CBS stood by the story at the time, even though the "pay-for-play" narrative was debunked. In addition, DeSantis accused CBS of cheaply editing a back-and-forth that aired between him and Alfonsi that omitted context about the story.
Fox News Digital’s Lindsay Kornick and David Rutz contributed to this report.
Ryan Reynolds compares Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni situation to Johnny Depp case in private text messages
Ryan Reynolds compared the public fallout between Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively to the firestorm that followed Johnny Depp and Amber Heard in newly released text messages.
In August 2024 text messages, which were included in court documents filed Tuesday and obtained by Fox News Digital, Reynolds sent a lengthy text to his agent discussing the online narrative surrounding the premiere of "It Ends With Us."
"You can sort of feel the Baldoni stuff coming to a head online," he began his text thread to Warren Zavala. "Twitter and TikTok are inexplicably blaming Blake at the moment. But I can't imagine details won't come out because Baldoni and Jayme Heath offended, harassed or violated too many people. And the internet is obviously looking for answers and obviously seeing how every cast member and key crew member (including Colleen) won't be in the same room as the guy. All of them have at some point, over the last six months, unfollowed him on social media. Not one person has said Justin's name out loud in any interview at any time. At what point do Justin and Jayme not take a moment to step into the light and say, ' ... maybe it's us.'?"
Hours later, Zavala replied — claiming the online narrative targeting Lively seemed to be originating from bots. The two then began to discuss Baldoni's possible PR strategy, comparing it to Depp after Heard accused him of verbal and physical abuse.
TAYLOR SWIFT CALLS JUSTIN BALDONI A 'B----' IN EXPLOSIVE TEXTS WITH BLAKE LIVELY REVEALED IN LAWSUIT
Warren Zavala: "It's this guys incredible ego. It feels like he's laying a trap if her truth surfaces, while promoting a narrative digitally."
Ryan Reynolds: "Yeah. But honestly, someone is just gonna tell a journalist the real deal and it's gonna blow up in his face."
Warren Zavala: "One would think. But the truth does become muddled sometimes. That's why I'm concerned if he's laying a trap. I hope this fraud s--- weasel is exposed. I just want to protect our downside. The movie working is everything. Let's see if the noise subsides."
Zavala then sent a link to a news story about Baldoni and Lively fighting over the final cut of "It Ends With Us."
Warren Zavala: "This is all spin. I think we let it burn."
Ryan Reynolds: "How'd that work out for Depp??"
Warren Zavala: "Not well. Cratered both of them ultimately."
Baldoni did retain someone from Depp's crisis PR team before the legal battle began.
Fox News Digital reached out to Baldoni's rep for comment.
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Lively and Baldoni starred together in the romance drama "It Ends with Us," which was based on Colleen Hoover's 2016 book. After a press tour rife with rumors of behind-the-scenes issues between the two, Baldoni and Lively filed lawsuits against each other.
The "Age of Adaline" star accused Baldoni of sexual harassment while filming "It Ends With Us." However, Baldoni insisted Lively had "falsely" accused him in an attempt to repair her reputation following fallout from the movie's press tour after she allegedly took control of the film.
Baldoni, in his own lawsuit filed in January, insisted that Lively had "falsely" accused him in an attempt to repair her reputation following the fallout of the movie's press tour after the actress took control of the film.
His lawsuit has since been dismissed.
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Legal teams for both parties appeared in court Thursday as Baldoni's side argued for a summary judgment. The actor's team insisted Lively's attorneys don't have enough evidence for the claims to head to trial.
Lively's team addressed four different incidents where the actress claimed she was sexually harassed on the film set, saying she did not consent to that touching which made her feel uncomfortable. They argued that Baldoni rewrote scenes, changing them graphically, without Lively’s consent. According to her legal team, when Lively complained, Wayfarer and Baldoni launched a smear campaign.
Baldoni's team claimed there is no evidence of sexual harassment and that "It Ends With Us" was a movie based on a book with some "hot and sexy scenes." The lawyer argued that Baldoni did not retaliate against Lively, but rather defended himself after she made sexual harassment claims against him.
The judge did not rule on the matter. As of now, Baldoni and Lively are heading to court in May 2026.
Fox News' Maria Paronich contributed to this report.
White House baby boom in full bloom as Usha Vance, top Trump aides announce pregnancies
The White House is experiencing a baby boom.
At least three women with close ties to the White House are pregnant, including second lady Usha Vance, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and Katie Miller, who is married to White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller.
The Vances announced Tuesday that they are expecting their fourth child in July. The couple share three children together: Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel.
"Usha and the baby are doing well, and we are all looking forward to welcoming him in late July," the Vances wrote in a statement shared on social media.
VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE DECLARES MARRIAGE TO WIFE USHA 'IS AS STRONG AS IT'S EVER BEEN'
"During this exciting and hectic time, we are particularly grateful for the military doctors who take excellent care of our family and for the staff members who do so much to ensure that we can serve the country while enjoying a wonderful life with our children," they said.
The Vances have been married since 2014, and met while they were students at Yale Law School.
Leavitt announced Dec. 26, 2025, that she and her husband Nick were expecting their second child, who is due in May. Leavitt and her husband welcomed their first child, Niko, in July 2024.
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"My husband and I are thrilled to grow our family and can’t wait to watch our son become a big brother," Leavitt told Fox News Digital. "My heart is overflowing with gratitude to God for the blessing of motherhood, which I truly believe is the closest thing to Heaven on Earth."
Leavitt told Fox News Digital in December 2025 that she is "extremely grateful to President Trump and our amazing Chief of Staff Susie Wiles for their support, and for fostering a pro-family environment in the White House."
"Nearly all of my West Wing colleagues have babies and young children, so we all really support one another as we tackle raising our families while working for the greatest president ever," Leavitt said.
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Leavitt is the first press secretary to be pregnant, and is remaining press secretary, according to a senior White House official.
Likewise, Katie Miller, a conservative podcast host, and Stephen Miller shared a joint Instagram post Dec. 31, 2025, celebrating the new year and depicting Katie Miller holding her baby bump. The couple shares three children: Mackenzie, Jackson and Hudson.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
Fox News’ Brooke Singman and Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.
Olympian weightlifter faces potential suspension, loss of medal after doping violation
Aurimas Didzbalis, who won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics in weightlifting, tested positive for doping, the International Testing Agency said Thursday.
Didzbalis, 34, is one of seven athletes who participated in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and tested positive after a fresh analysis of their samples. Samples taken at the Olympic Games are stored and can be retested for up to 10 years after their event to allow for new developments in doping science.
"The majority of these positive re-analysis results are mainly due to technical advances," the ITA said.
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Didzbalis and three of the other athletes with positive tests tested positive for the anabolic steroid Danabol. Sprinter Ivet Lalova of Bulgaria, who placed eighth in the women’s 200 meters final, tested positive for ostarine, which has similar effects to steroids.
Didzbalis, following the retest, faces disqualification by the International Olympic Committee and could be stripped of his medal. The fourth-place lifter was Sarat Sumpradit of Thailand.
ELI MANNING TAKES ON YET ANOTHER JOB AS HE TEASES POSSIBLE OLYMPIC APPEARANCE
The 34-year-old’s positive test is not the first time he has tested positive for steroids. Didzbalis also tested positive for doping ahead of the 2012 London Olympics and at the 2017 World Championships in Anaheim, California.
"The athletes will also be provisionally suspended by their respective international federation," the ITA said.
The fresh Olympic doping cases included four in weightlifting and one each in judo, wrestling and track and field.
Two of the athletes came from Egypt and one each from Belarus, Olympic host Brazil, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Uzbekistan.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Common vitamin in everyday foods may control speed of digestion, study says
A common vitamin found in everyday foods may play a role in how often people go to the bathroom, according to a large new study.
Researchers found evidence that vitamin B1, also known as thiamine, is linked to gut motility, which is the process that moves food through the digestive system.
The international team — led by Mauro D’Amato, a professor of medical genetics at LUM University and a research professor at CIC bioGUNE — analyzed genetic and health data from more than 268,000 people of European and East Asian ancestry, according to a press release.
EXPERT WARNS OF 'SILENT EPIDEMIC' THAT PUTS MEN’S HEALTH AT SERIOUS RISK
Participants reported how frequently they went to the bathroom, which researchers used as a practical measure of gut motility.
"We used genetics to build a roadmap of biological pathways that set the gut’s pace. What stood out was how strongly the data pointed to vitamin B1 metabolism, alongside established mechanisms," first author Dr. Cristian Diaz-Muñoz, a postdoctoral researcher in the Gastrointestinal Genetics Lab at CIC bioGUNE, located in the Bizkaia Science and Technology Park in Spain, said in the release.
B1, also known as thiamine, is linked to gut motility, which is the process that moves food through the digestive system. By scanning millions of genetic markers, the team identified 21 genetic regions tied to how often people had bowel movements, including several that had not previously been connected to digestive function.
GUT IMBALANCE MAY BE DRIVING AMERICA’S FOOD ALLERGY EPIDEMIC, EXPERTS WARN
Many of the signals pointed to pathways already known to be important for digestion, like bile acid metabolism and nerve signaling, which control the rhythmic contractions of intestinal muscles, the release stated.
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The most unexpected finding involved genes linked to thiamine metabolism. Two genes in particular, which help to transport and regulate vitamin B1 in the body, showed strong associations with stool frequency.
To explore whether this translated into everyday behavior, the researchers examined dietary data from nearly 100,000 participants in the UK Biobank.
They found that people who consumed higher amounts of vitamin B1 tended to have more frequent bowel movements.
However, this relationship wasn’t seen in every case. The effect changed depending on a person’s genetic makeup, suggesting that genes are involved in the body's processing of the vitamin.
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Vitamin B1 plays a central role in energy metabolism and nerve function, including the nerves and muscles that coordinate movement in the gut, according to the National Institutes of Health.
The study, which was published in the scientific journal Gut, did have some limitations.
Frequency is an indirect measure of gut motility and does not capture stool consistency, discomfort or other symptoms relevant to digestive disorders, the researchers acknowledged.
The study also relied on self-reported dietary data, which can be imprecise.
Genetic associations do not prove cause and effect, the researchers noted.
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The results do not conclusively show that taking vitamin B1 supplements will change bowel habits, nor do they establish the biological pathway through which thiamine might influence digestion.
People experiencing digestive issues should consult a doctor for guidance.