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Gut Microbiota and Sleep Disorders with a Special Focus on the Pediatric Population

Alberto Verrotti1, Virginia Filippini1, Barbara Federici2

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Perugia, 06129 Perugia, Italy.

Pediatric Reports
|July 24, 2026
PubMed

Insights

The gut microbiota and sleep are linked in children, influencing neurodevelopment via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Understanding this connection may lead to new therapies for sleep disturbances.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Sleep Science
  • Microbiome Research
  • Neurodevelopmental Biology

Background:

  • The gut microbiota and sleep exhibit a bidirectional relationship, mediated by the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA).
  • This interaction is crucial for neurodevelopment in infants and children, involving sleep, circadian rhythms, and microbial composition.
  • Current understanding is limited by adult-centric data and methodological challenges in pediatric studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent literature on the gut microbiota's role in pediatric sleep and sleep disorders.
  • To summarize potential microbiota-based therapeutic strategies for children.
  • To highlight the need for pediatric-focused research.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on gut microbiota and sleep in children.
  • Analysis of evidence linking sleep dimensions (duration, quality, timing, regularity) to microbial function.
  • Synthesis of findings from pediatric and mixed-age cohorts.

Main Results:

  • Multiple dimensions of sleep are closely associated with gut microbial composition and function in children.
  • The MGBA is a key mediator in the gut-sleep relationship during development.
  • Evidence supports the potential for nutritional and microbiota-targeted interventions.

Conclusions:

  • The gut microbiota plays a significant role in sleep patterns and disorders in children.
  • Further research focusing on pediatric populations is needed to elucidate mechanisms and causal relationships.
  • Microbiota-targeted interventions show promise for addressing pediatric sleep disturbances.

Keywords:
dysbiosisgut microbiotagut–brain axispediatric agesleep disorders

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