[Gut microbiome and sleep disturbances in menopause.]

The paper presents the results of the gut microbiota study in menopausal women with sleep disorders based on different assessments of sleep quality. The study involved 96 menopausal women. Sleep quality was assessed using three questionnaires: the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. The qualitative and quantitative composition of the microbiota was assessed using microbiological and molecular genetic methods. In the group with sleep disorders (according to PSQI), molecular genetic analysis of the microbiome revealed an increased content of Enterococcus spp. (p=0,03), Clostridium perfringens (p=0,01), and Shigella spp. (p=0,04). Compared to the control, with moderate sleep disorders (according to the ISI questionnaire), the content of Clostridium perfringens was increased (p=0,02). According to the Epworth scale, a higher content of Bifidobacterium spp. (p=0,04), Prevotella spp. (p=0,02) and Eubacterium rectale (p=0,04) was noted in the group with excessive daytime sleepiness compared to the control. Thus, in menopausal women, the composition and structure of the gut microbiota are associated with sleep disorders.