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Associations between gut microbiota and sleep: a two-sample, bidirectional Mendelian randomization study
Jun Wu1, Baofu Zhang1, Shengjie Zhou2
1Department of Vascular Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Frontiers in Microbiology
|August 30, 2023
Summary
This study reveals a two-way link between gut bacteria and sleep. Changes in gut microbiota composition can affect sleep, and sleep disturbances can alter gut bacteria, highlighting a reciprocal relationship.
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Sleep science
- Genetics
Background:
- The gut microbiota plays a role in sleep via the microbiome-gut-brain axis.
- A definitive causal link between gut microbiota and sleep is yet to be established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal relationships between gut microbiota and sleep traits.
- To explore bidirectional associations using Mendelian randomization.
Main Methods:
- Two-sample, bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis.
- Utilized genome-wide association study data for 119 bacterial genera and seven sleep traits.
- Employed multiple MR methods and assessed heterogeneity and pleiotropy.
Main Results:
- Forward MR indicated causal effects of 42 bacterial genera on sleep-associated traits.
- Reverse MR showed causal effects of sleep traits on 39 bacterial genera.
- 13 bacterial genera showed overlap in both forward and reverse analyses.
Conclusions:
- Gut microbiota composition is causally linked to sleep regulation.
- Sleep traits can reciprocally influence gut microbiota abundance.
- Evidence supports a bidirectional causal association between the gut microbiome and sleep.
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