Gut Microbiota Influence on Sleep Disorders

The human gastrointestinal tract harbours trillions of microorganisms, collectively termed the gut microbiota, whose composition and metabolic activity have emerged as key modulators of central nervous system function. Growing evidence indicates that perturbations of this microbial ecosystem—often referred to as dysbiosis—can influence sleep architecture, duration and quality. The microbiota communicates with the brain via the microbiome-gut-brain axis, a bidirectional network involving immune mediators, metabolic products such as short-chain fatty acids and bile acids, and neuroactive molecules including serotonin and melatonin. Disrupted sleep, whether through fragmentation, deprivation or circadian misalignment, induces alterations in microbial diversity and metabolite profiles. Conversely, targeted modulation of the microbiota with prebiotics, probiotics or metabolites can restore sleep patterns and attenuate associated neuroinflammatory and metabolic consequences. This interplay has profound implications for disorders ranging from insomnia and sleep apnoea to neurodegenerative diseases, and suggests novel interventions to improve sleep health by harnessing microbial functions.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A longitudinal human study revealed that chronic insomnia is linked to specific gut microbial signatures and alterations in bile acid metabolism. Two genera within the Ruminococcaceae family were identified as mediators of the association between insomnia and cardiometabolic risk. Changes in levels of secondary bile acids provided mechanistic insight, underlining a potential target for dietary or microbial interventions to mitigate cardiovascular sequelae of poor sleep. Experimental depletion of gut microbiota in mice through broad-spectrum antibiotics demonstrated profound shifts in sleep-wake architecture. Antibiotic-induced dysbiosis depleted key vitamins and neurotransmitter precursors in the intestine, leading to reduced non-rapid-eye-movement sleep during the rest phase and increased fragmentation of rapid-eye-movement sleep at night. These findings establish a causal role for microbial metabolism in sleep regulation and suggest that preserving microbial balance may support healthy sleep patterns.

Gut Microbiota Influence on Sleep Disorders publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in gut microbiota influence on sleep disorders across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Gut microbiota: The collection of microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract.

Dysbiosis: A state of imbalance in microbial composition or function associated with disease.

Microbiome-gut-brain axis: The bidirectional communication network linking gut microbes, immune and endocrine signalling, and brain function.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs): Metabolic products of microbial fermentation of dietary fibres that influence host physiology and neuroinflammation.

Bile acids: Cholesterol-derived metabolites processed by gut microbes, involved in digestion and signalling pathways affecting metabolism and sleep.

References

1. The gut microbiota-bile acid axis links the positive association between chronic insomnia and cardiometabolic diseases. Nature Communications (2022).
2. Gut microbiota depletion by chronic antibiotic treatment alters the sleep/wake architecture and sleep EEG power spectra in mice. Scientific Reports (2020).
3. Gut microbiota-derived metabolites mediate the neuroprotective effect of melatonin in cognitive impairment induced by sleep deprivation. Microbiome (2023).
4. Akkermansia muciniphila supplementation prevents cognitive impairment in sleep-deprived mice by modulating microglial engulfment of synapses. Gut Microbes (2023).