A new study identifies 14 types of gut bacteria that appear to increase the risk of insomnia and 8 that may protect against the sleep disorder.
The tiny bacteria living in your gut might be affecting how well you sleep – and vice versa.
According to a new study in General Psychiatry, certain gut bacteria appear to raise the risk of insomnia, while others decrease the struggle for ZZZs.
Researchers analyzed genetic and microbiome data from tens of thousands of people of European descent.
They identified 14 types of bacteria linked to a slightly higher risk of insomnia and 8 that displayed a protective effect against the condition.
One group, called Odoribacter, stood out as strongly tied to poor sleep.
Insomnia itself was also associated with some drastic changes in the abundance of certain gut bacteria.
The authors say, “Our study offers preliminary evidence supporting a causal effect between insomnia and gut microbiota.”
While more research is needed, they say future insomnia treatments might include probiotics, prebiotics or fecal microbiota transplantation.
Source: General Psychiatry
Author Affiliations: Nanjing Medical University, George Mason University, Research Center for Medical Genetics, Moscow
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