Gut bacteria linked to insomnia in massive study
A study of nearly 400,000 people found that certain gut bacteria increase or decrease the risk of insomnia.
Why it matters
- First study to establish a causal link between gut bacteria and insomnia.
- Confirms previous research that some bacteria help sleep while others disrupt it.
By the numbers
- Nearly 400,000 participants: 109,402 with insomnia and 277,131 without.
- 14 bacterial taxa increase insomnia risk, 8 are protective.
- Strongest link: Clostridium innocuum group increases insomnia risk.
The big picture
- Gut-brain axis: chemical, neural, and immune signaling between gut and brain.
- Some bacteria produce short-chain fatty acids influencing brain signaling and inflammation.
- Poor sleep can alter gut environment, creating a feedback loop.
What they're saying
- Commenters ask how to use this info to improve sleep, suggest bidirectional link between insomnia and gut bacteria.
- Some suggest insomnia may influence gut bacteria composition.
- Others see gut microbiome as a potential area for health discoveries.
Caveats
- Participants were all of European ancestry.
- Genetic approach ignores other insomnia influences like diet, lifestyle, and geography.
- Microbiome is complex; altering one microbe's abundance may have unintended consequences.
What’s next
- Further research on microbiome sampling for identifying insomnia triggers.
- Potential treatments targeting gut, including probiotics, prebiotics, dietary changes, or microbial transplants.