Breakthrough in Insomnia Treatment: Unexpected Culprit Found!

To explore the link between insomnia and gut bacteria, scientists from Nanjing Medical University in China analyzed data from 386,533 participants with insomnia and 26,500 participants with gut microbiome data.

The results found a reciprocal relationship between gut bacteria and insomnia.

There is a direct link between gut bacteria and the risk of insomnia, said study leader Dr. Shangyun Shi, Nanjing Medical University, China.

Illustration: AI

Gut bacteria cause insomnia

The results identified 14 species of gut bacteria that can increase the risk of insomnia, according to the Daily Mail.

However, the researchers also found that there are types of gut bacteria that reduce the risk of insomnia. Specifically, they found eight species that had a protective effect.

Additionally, research has found that insomnia may affect the abundance of certain types of gut bacteria.

Sleep deprivation alters the gut microbiome

Conversely, the study also found that insomnia can also affect the gut microbiome. The authors suggested that future treatments for insomnia could include methods to control gut bacteria levels, according to the Daily Mail.

For example, the bacteria group odoribacter, has also been linked to insomnia. High levels of odoribacter promote gut health and reduce inflammation in the body, while lower levels increase the risk of inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.

This study further strengthens the link between “the impact of sleep loss on the gut microbiome and vice versa,” Dr Shi said, adding that they have a complex two-way relationship.