Your gut microbes could be causing your insomnia, according to a new study from China. And the reverse is also true: your sleep habits could also impact your gut health.
Previous research has already suggested that sleep habits and gut health could be interlinked, but a recent analysis published in the journal General Psychiatry indicates that the link might be causal – meaning your sleep might directly influence your gut, and vice versa.
First author Dr Shi Shangyun, from the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, in China, told BBC Science Focus that this research had the potential to “reshape understanding of insomnia and inspire interest in microbiome-based research and interventions.”
In the future, it’s possible that insomnia could be treated via the gut with probiotics (such as yoghurt or sauerkraut), prebiotics (sources of fibre) or faecal transplants, the researchers wrote.
“Additionally, the gut microbiome may serve as a biomarker to track how well these treatments work, enabling more personalised care,” said Shangyun.
The scientists used a statistical technique called Mendelian randomisation analysis (which uses genetic information to understand cause and effect) to investigate the link between insomnia and the gut microbiome.
They found certain genes they knew to be linked to insomnia, and calculated whether people with those genes were also more likely to have certain gut microbes.
And then they did the same in reverse, examining whether people with certain gut microbes were more or less likely to have insomnia.
To do this, the scientists used data from 387,000 people with insomnia, and gut microbiome data from 26,500 people. All the data was from Europeans, which means these results may not be relevant for everyone.
The scientists’ analysis suggested that 41 types of gut bacteria were likely to cause insomnia, at least partially.
But Shangyun said that some microbes were more significant than others. In particular, 14 groups of bacteria were found to be associated with a higher likelihood of insomnia, and eight groups with lower odds of insomnia.
In the other direction, the scientists found that insomnia was linked with a reduction (of between 43–79 per cent) of seven groups of bacteria.
Insomnia was also associated with a 65 per cent chance that 12 groups of bacteria were four times more abundant in the gut.
One class of bacteria – called Odoribacter – was particularly closely associated with insomnia risk. Odoribacter is a type of gut bacteria generally associated with better gut health.
All in all, the study uncovered a vicious cycle. A variety of gut bacteria might be causing insomnia, but poor sleep might also contribute towards a different gut microbiome.
Shangyun added that further studies were needed before doctors can prescribe gut health strategies to help their patients sleep better.
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About our expert
Dr Shi Shangyun is a scientist in the Department of Psychiatry, The Affiliated Brain Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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