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When it comes to a poor night’s sleep, we often blame factors like screen time, stress, or alcohol consumption. However, a new player has entered the scene – the microbes in our gut.
This article is part of a special series investigating key questions about sleep. Read more here.
Research has shown that our gut microbiome not only impacts our overall health but also plays a role in our sleep patterns. According to Elizabeth Holzhausen from the University of Colorado Boulder, there is a complex, bidirectional relationship between the microbiome and sleep. “The microbiome influences sleep, and sleep influences the microbiome,” she explains. The good news is that there are interventions available to help improve this connection.
Recent studies have revealed the significant influence of gut microbes on sleep quality. For example, a study involving 720 participants in 2023 found that a diverse gut microbiome was associated with better sleep. Similarly, research conducted by King’s College London and Zoe, a personalized nutrition company, with nearly 1000 individuals showed that irregular sleep patterns were linked to an increase in “unfavorable” bacterial species, which are associated with negative health outcomes.
Furthermore, alterations in the composition of the gut microbiome have been connected to various sleep disorders. For instance, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, characterized by physical movements during REM sleep, has been associated with a decrease in gut bacteria that produce butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid, and an increase in bacteria that promote inflammation.
