Researchers from the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University in China have discovered a link between gut bacteria and insomnia risk. The study found that specific types of gut microbes can boost or lower the risk of insomnia, while insomnia may also alter the abundance of certain gut “bugs.”
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 12 percent of people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with chronic insomnia. Insomnia is characterized by difficulty falling asleep, waking up during the night, lying awake at night, and waking up too early, resulting in daytime symptoms of tiredness and irritability.
The study analyzed data from over 386,000 people with insomnia and found associations between specific gut microbes and insomnia. The researchers identified 14 groups of bacteria that were positively associated with insomnia, while eight groups showed a negative association.
One class of bacteria, Odoribacter, was significantly associated with the risk of insomnia. This bacterium produces short-chain fatty acids, which influence inflammation, neurotransmitter balance, and circadian regulation.
The study’s findings suggest a complex relationship between gut microbiota and insomnia, involving immune regulation, inflammatory response, and neurotransmitter release. The researchers propose that modifying gut bacteria through probiotics, prebiotics, or fecal microbiota transplantation could be beneficial for treating insomnia.
However, the authors emphasize that more research is needed to confirm these findings, as limitations include a lack of diversity in the study population and factors like diet and lifestyle not being accounted for.
Source: https://www.newsweek.com/sleep-insomnia-gut-health-bacteria-microbiome-link-2112316