A new study has suggested that the balance of bacteria in the gut may play a role in insomnia, shedding light on a biological link between digestive health and sleep problems.
Gut health is already known to influence mood, immunity, and metabolism. Now, researchers have found that certain gut bacteria may also contribute to insomnia — a sleep disorder affecting millions worldwide.
The study, published in the journal General Psychiatry, analysed data from 386,533 people with insomnia who had taken part in a previous large-scale health study. Findings indicated that insomnia was associated with the abundance of specific gut bacteria, although the exact biological mechanisms remain unclear.
Insomnia causes beyond gut health
According to the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), insomnia can be caused by a range of factors including anxiety, depression, noise, alcohol, caffeine consumption, or irregular work shifts.
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While previous research has linked the gut microbiome to sleep regulation, this new study is among the largest to suggest that particular bacterial groups may increase the risk of developing chronic insomnia.
What researchers say
Scientists stress that more research is needed to understand whether gut bacteria directly cause sleep disturbances or simply influence other biological processes that affect sleep.
Future studies may help determine if therapies such as probiotics, prebiotics, or dietary changes could improve sleep by altering gut microbiome composition.
