{"id":58744,"date":"2016-12-09T15:09:36","date_gmt":"2016-12-09T14:09:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.darmklachten.nl\/symptoms\/mucus-in-the-stool\/"},"modified":"2026-09-28T22:01:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T20:01:26","slug":"mucus-in-the-stool","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.darmklachten.nl\/en\/symptoms\/mucus-in-the-stool\/","title":{"rendered":"Mucus in the stool"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What you need to know about mucus in the stool<\/h2>\n

Normal human stool is firm, well formed and brown in color due to remnants of our blood, and no mucus is visible. The brown color of stool ranges from light brown (peanut-butter-like) to dark brown (chocolate-spread-like). Bile and bilirubin originate from red blood cells and give stool its brown color. Dark stool indicates that it has remained in the body longer. In newborn babies, fecal matter is initially yellow-green. The appearance and color of stool can vary greatly in adults and young children. The color of stool can tell us a great deal about our health. If mucus is also visible, this may indicate inflammation or irritation. Mucus in the stool comes from the lining of the intestines. The mucus may be on the outside of the stool or mixed into it. Bloody mucus indicates inflammation.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n

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\"\"Akkermansia muciniphila<\/strong>
\n<\/span><\/span>The bacterium Akkermansia muciniphila<\/em> (named after the Dutchman Akkermans) plays an important role in maintaining the mucus layer in the intestine. When the bacterium increases, mucus is broken down, and when this bacterium decreases, the quality of the mucus layer declines because there is not enough buildup. In a healthy intestine, there is a balance between the buildup and breakdown of mucus, creating a dynamic layer of stable thickness. Although the composition of the gut flora varies with the seasons due to changes in food availability, the thickness of the mucus layer remains the same. When food is scarce, bacteria use mucus, which reduces the quality of the body\u2019s defenses.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]\n

Symptoms of mucus in the stool<\/h2>\n

When mucus is visible in the stool, this may be the result of inflammation of the intestine. This is often accompanied by other symptoms such as:<\/p>\n