Shorter sleep time relates to lower human defensin 5 secretion and compositional disturbance of the intestinal microbiota accompanied by decreased short-chain fatty acid production

Association between yogurt and dietary supplements containing probiotic consumption with sleep disturbance in US adults: Results from NHANES, 2009-2018

Purpose

Sleep disorders are common globally. Probiotics may improve human microbial diversity, offering potential benefits for sleep disturbances by enhancing sleep quality and reducing disorders. We aimed to use a population-based study to investigate the association between yogurt (a probiotic food) and probiotic consumption with sleep disturbances in US adults.

Methods

A total of 49,693 adults from the 2009-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were included in the analyses. Sleep disorders and sleep duration were assessed according to the Sleep Disorders Questionnaire. The Dietary Questionnaire evaluated yogurt and dietary supplements containing probiotic consumption. After adjusting for confounding factors, weighted multivariable logistic regression and subgroup analyses were used to assess the association between yogurt and probiotic consumption and sleep status.

Results

Of the study cohort, 3535 (14.24 %) participants consumed yogurt and/or dietary supplements containing probiotics. The prevalence of sleep disorders was 16.22 %. Only 53.51 % of the participants achieved the recommended amount of sleep (7-9 h), with 6.10 % and 33.48 % having excessive and insufficient sleep duration, respectively. Weighted Logistic regression models indicated a significant association of probiotic intake with a decreased risk of sleep disturbances compared with those without yogurt or probiotic consumption after adjustments. (For sleep disorders: OR: 0.96, 95 % CI 0.94-0.98, P < 0.001; for sleep duration: OR: 0.98, 95 % CI 0.96-1.00, P = 0.081) Moreover, the effect size of the probiotic intake on sleep was especially significant in sex, race, and BMI subgroups.

Conclusion

The present study first indicated that yogurt and probiotic consumption were associated with a reduced risk of sleep disturbances in US adults, particularly among males, whites, and those with a normal BMI. Incorporating yogurt or probiotics into the diet could serve as a public health strategy for improving sleep disturbances, though further investigation into the underlying mechanisms is needed.

Sleep promoting and omics exploration on probiotics fermented Gastrodia elata Blume

Fermenting Chinese medicinal herbs could enhance their bioactivities. We hypothesized probiotic-fermented gastrodia elata Blume (GE) with better potential to alleviate insomnia than that of unfermented, thus the changes in chemical composition and the insomnia-alleviating effects and mechanisms of fermented GE on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced insomnia zebrafish were explored via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectroscopy-coupled HPLC (HPLC-MS), phenotypic, transcriptomic, and metabolomics analysis. The results demonstrated that probiotic fermented GE performed better than unfermented GE in increasing the content of chemical composition, reducing the displacement, average speed, and number of apoptotic cells in zebrafish with insomnia. Metabolomic investigation showed that the anti-insomnia effect was related to regulating the pathways of actin cytoskeleton and neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions. Transcriptomic and reverse transcription qPCR (RT-qPCR) analysis revealed that secondary fermentation liquid (SFL) significantly modulated the expression levels of neurod1, msh2, msh3, recql4, ercc5, rad5lc, and rev3l, which are mainly involved in neuron differentiation and DNA repair. Collectively, as a functional food, fermented GE possessed potential for insomnia alleviation.

Association of methyl donor nutrients dietary intake and sleep disorders in the elderly revealed by the intestinal microbiome

Currently, sleep disorders (SD) in the elderly are gaining prominence globally and are becoming a significant public health concern. Methyl donor nutrients (MDNs), such as vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folate, and choline, have been reported to have the potential to improve sleep disorders. Moreover, MDNs help to maintain gut flora homeostasis, and are closely associated with the development of SD. Nevertheless, there has been a lack of comprehensive human studies examining the association between MDNs intake and SD. In our study, we comprehensively evaluated the association between MDNs intake and SD in the elderly and used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to explore the underlying mechanism. We found that the SD group (n = 91) had a lower methyl-donor nutritional quality index (MNQI) and a trend toward lower intake compared to the control group (n = 147). Based on the intestinal microbiome, the beta diversity of the intestinal flora was higher in the high methyl-donor nutritional quality (HQ) group compared to the low methyl-donor nutritional quality (LQ) group, and it was lower in the SD group compared to the control group. This suggests that MDNs may regulate sleep by modulating the abundance distribution of the microbiota. Subsequently, we performed correlation analyses between the relative abundance of the microbiota, MDNs intake, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), identifying five genera with potential regulatory roles. The KEGG pathway analysis indicated that energy metabolism and one-carbon metabolism might be the pathways through which MDNs modulate sleep. This study offers dietary guidance strategies for managing SD in the elderly and provides insights for targeted microbiota intervention.

Gut microbiota profile in CDKL5 deficiency disorder patients

CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by global developmental delay, early-onset seizures, intellectual disability, visual and motor impairments. Unlike Rett Syndrome (RTT), CDD lacks a clear regression period. Patients with CDD frequently encounter gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances and exhibit signs of subclinical immune dysregulation. However, the underlying causes of these conditions remain elusive. Emerging studies indicate a potential connection between neurological disorders and gut microbiota, an area completely unexplored in CDD. We conducted a pioneering study, analyzing fecal microbiota composition in individuals with CDD (n = 17) and their healthy relatives (n = 17). Notably, differences in intestinal bacterial diversity and composition were identified in CDD patients. In particular, at genus level, CDD microbial communities were characterized by an increase in the relative abundance of Clostridium_AQ, Eggerthella, Streptococcus, and Erysipelatoclostridium, and by a decrease in Eubacterium, Dorea, Odoribacter, Intestinomonas, and Gemmiger, pointing toward a dysbiotic profile. We further investigated microbiota changes based on the severity of GI issues, seizure frequency, sleep disorders, food intake type, impairment in neuro-behavioral features and ambulation capacity. Enrichment in Lachnoclostridium and Enterobacteriaceae was observed in the microbiota of patients with more severe GI symptoms, while Clostridiaceae, Peptostreptococcaceae, Coriobacteriaceae, Erysipelotrichaceae, Christensenellaceae, and Ruminococcaceae were enriched in patients experiencing daily epileptic seizures. Our findings suggest a potential connection between CDD, microbiota and symptom severity. This study marks the first exploration of the gut-microbiota-brain axis in subjects with CDD. It adds to the growing body of research emphasizing the role of the gut microbiota in neurodevelopmental disorders and opens doors to potential interventions that target intestinal microbes with the aim of improving the lives of patients with CDD.

Microbiota-gut-brain axis and its therapeutic applications in neurodegenerative diseases

The human gastrointestinal tract is populated with a diverse microbial community. The vast genetic and metabolic potential of the gut microbiome underpins its ubiquity in nearly every aspect of human biology, including health maintenance, development, aging, and disease. The advent of new sequencing technologies and culture-independent methods has allowed researchers to move beyond correlative studies toward mechanistic explorations to shed light on microbiome-host interactions. Evidence has unveiled the bidirectional communication between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system, referred to as the "microbiota-gut-brain axis". The microbiota-gut-brain axis represents an important regulator of glial functions, making it an actionable target to ameliorate the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in neurodegenerative diseases. As the gut microbiome provides essential cues to microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, we examine the communications between gut microbiota and these glial cells during healthy states and neurodegenerative diseases. Subsequently, we discuss the mechanisms of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in neurodegenerative diseases using a metabolite-centric approach, while also examining the role of gut microbiota-related neurotransmitters and gut hormones. Next, we examine the potential of targeting the intestinal barrier, blood-brain barrier, meninges, and peripheral immune system to counteract glial dysfunction in neurodegeneration. Finally, we conclude by assessing the pre-clinical and clinical evidence of probiotics, prebiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation in neurodegenerative diseases. A thorough comprehension of the microbiota-gut-brain axis will foster the development of effective therapeutic interventions for the management of neurodegenerative diseases.

The impact of plant-rich diets on sleep: a mini-review

Plant-rich diets (PRDs), also referred to as plant based diets, have been shown to have beneficial effects on various chronic diseases and all-cause mortality. However, limited data are available on the effect of such diets on sleep and sleep disorders. In this review article, we explore existing evidence and potential mechanisms by which PRDs may impact sleep and sleepiness. High-fat diets are associated with drowsiness, while fiber-rich diets improve sleep quality. Anti-inflammatory diets may benefit patients with sleep disturbances, and diets rich in tryptophan and serotonin precursors may improve sleep quality. Isoflavones and polyphenols present in PRDs may also have a positive impact on sleep. Furthermore, diets rich in plants may reduce the risk of obstructive sleep apnea and associated daytime sleepiness. Overall, the current knowledge about PRDs in sleep and sleep disorders is limited, and further research is needed to explore the potential advantages of this dietary approach in sleep disorders.

New Awareness of the Interplay Between the Gut Microbiota and Circadian Rhythms

Circadian rhythms influence various aspects of the biology and physiology of the host, such as food intake and sleep/wake cycles. In recent years, an increasing amount of genetic and epidemiological data has shown that the light/dark cycle is the main cue that regulates circadian rhythms. Other factors, including sleep/wake cycles and food intake, have necessary effects on the composition and rhythms of the gut microbiota. Interestingly, the gut microbiota can affect the circadian rhythm of hosts in turn through contact-dependent and contact-independent mechanisms. Furthermore, the gut microbiota has been shown to regulate the sleep/wake cycles through gut-brain-microbiota interaction. In addition to diabetes, the gut microbiota can also intervene in the progression of neuro- degenerative diseases through the gut-brain-microbiota interaction, and also in other diseases such as hypertension and rheumatoid arthritis, where it is thought to have a spare therapeutic potential. Even though fecal microbiota transplantation has good potential for treating many diseases, the risk of spreading intestinal pathogens should not be ignored.

Circadian rhythms in colonic function

A rhythmic expression of clock genes occurs within the cells of multiple organs and tissues throughout the body, termed "peripheral clocks." Peripheral clocks are subject to entrainment by a multitude of factors, many of which are directly or indirectly controlled by the light-entrainable clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus. Peripheral clocks occur in the gastrointestinal tract, notably the epithelia whose functions include regulation of absorption, permeability, and secretion of hormones; and in the myenteric plexus, which is the intrinsic neural network principally responsible for the coordination of muscular activity in the gut. This review focuses on the physiological circadian variation of major colonic functions and their entraining mechanisms, including colonic motility, absorption, hormone secretion, permeability, and pain signalling. Pathophysiological states such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis and their interactions with circadian rhythmicity are also described. Finally, the classic circadian hormone melatonin is discussed, which is expressed in the gut in greater quantities than the pineal gland, and whose exogenous use has been of therapeutic interest in treating colonic pathophysiological states, including those exacerbated by chronic circadian disruption.