Cited by 402Gut microbiota and healthSleep and related disordersGastrointestinal motility and disorders

Gut microbiome diversity is associated with sleep physiology in humans

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Smith, Robert P., Easson, Cole, Lyle, Sarah M., Kapoor, Ritishka, Donnelly, Chase P., Davidson, Eileen J., Parikh, Esha, Lopez, Jose V. +1 more·2019·PLOS ONE

Abstract

The human gut microbiome can influence health through the brain-gut-microbiome axis. Growing evidence suggests that the gut microbiome can influence sleep quality. Previous studies that have examined sleep deprivation and the human gut microbiome have yielded conflicting results. A recent study found that sleep deprivation leads to changes in gut microbiome composition while a different study found that sleep deprivation does not lead to changes in gut microbiome. Accordingly, the relationship between sleep physiology and the gut microbiome remains unclear. To address this uncertainty, we used actigraphy to quantify sleep measures coupled with gut microbiome sampling to determine how the gut microbiome correlates with various measures of sleep physiology. We measured immune system biomarkers and carried out a neurobehavioral assessment as these variables might modify the relationship between sleep and gut microbiome composition. We found that total microbiome diversity was positively correlated with increased sleep efficiency and total sleep time, and was negatively correlated with wake after sleep onset. We found positive correlations between total microbiome diversity and interleukin-6, a cytokine previously noted for its effects on sleep. Analysis of microbiome composition revealed that within phyla richness of Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes were positively correlated with sleep efficiency, interleukin-6 concentrations and abstract thinking. Finally, we found that several taxa (Lachnospiraceae, Corynebacterium, and Blautia) were negatively correlated with sleep measures. Our findings initiate linkages between gut microbiome composition, sleep physiology, the immune system and cognition. They may lead to mechanisms to improve sleep through the manipulation of the gut microbiome.

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  1. [80]Armitage R, Smith C, Thompson S, Hoffmann R. Sex differences in slow-wave activity in response to sleep deprivation. Sleep Res Online. 2001; 4(1): 33– 41.

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Authors
Smith, R. P., Easson, C., Lyle, S. M., Kapoor, R., Donnelly, C. P., Davidson, E. J., Parikh, E., Lopez, J. V., & Tartar, J. L.
Affiliations
  • Nova Southeastern University (US)
  • Middle Tennessee State University (US)
Corresponding author
Tartar, Jaime L.
Venue
PLOS ONE
Published
2019-10-07
Volume
14
Issue
10
Pages
e0222394
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2979803667
Cited by
390
References
85
Citations by year
2026: 53 · 2025: 80 · 2024: 76 · 2023: 47 · 2022: 56 · 2021: 49 · 2020: 28 · 2017: 1
FWCI
11.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • NSUWorks (Nova Southeastern University) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Nova Southeastern University (335411)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
Keywords
gut microbiota diversity, sleep physiology, sleep efficiency, total sleep time, wake after sleep onset, interleukin-6, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Lachnospiraceae, Corynebacterium, Blautia, abstract thinking, neurobehavioral assessment, gut-brain axis, sleep deprivation
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Bacteria, Cognition, Humans, Male, Phylogeny, Sleep, Thinking, Interleukin-6, Biodiversity

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