A new aspect draws attention regarding the causes of insomnia. It turns out that the problem is not only related to stress or daily routines but sometimes to a more "hidden" factor – the intestines.
According to Demokrat.az, doctors believe that changes in the gut microbiome directly affect the quality of sleep. A decrease in beneficial bacteria can lead to insomnia.
Sara McNellis, a somnologist at University College London Hospitals, stated that there is a strong connection between the gut and the brain. According to her, when the balance of bacteria is disrupted, the sleep pattern also changes, and at the same time, long-term sleep problems negatively affect the microbiome, making the process even more severe.
A large-scale study by Chinese scientists also confirms this idea. The research, involving about 387 thousand people, showed that individuals with sleep disturbances have fewer beneficial bacteria of seven types. The decrease of lactobacilli is particularly noticeable.
Doctors explain that these bacteria break down dietary fibers and produce substances that play an important role in metabolism and the gut-brain connection. Sleep deprivation, on the other hand, creates conditions for the increase of harmful bacteria and further complicates the situation.
Experts believe that in the fight against insomnia, not only the routine but also nutrition and gut health play a significant role. In some cases, the root of the problem is precisely hidden here.