SupplementsExercise

Insomnia induces intestinal microbiota disorder, and artificial interventions targeting gut microbiota can improve sleep.

This narrative review summarizes evidence that insomnia can disrupt intestinal microbiota by activating immune responses, the HPA axis, and neuroendocrine systems, while gut microbiota can exacerbate insomnia via neurotransmitter and inflammatory factor release. Artificial interventions such as probiotics, traditional Chinese medicine, fecal microbiota transplantation, diet, and exercise may improve sleep by affecting neurotransmitter and microbial metabolite release.

Last updated: Aug 26, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score32/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Insomnia and intestinal microbiota: a narrative review.

observational

Liu L, Zhu JW, Wu JL, Li MZ, Lu ML, Yu Y, Pan L · Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung (2024)

Participants: N/A
Duration: N/A
Intervention: Artificial interventions of gut microbiota (probiotics, traditional Chinese medicine, fecal microbiota transplantation, diet, exercise)
Outcome: Improvement in insomnia symptoms via changes in gut microbiota
Effect Size: N/A
Population: Patients with insomnia (general adult population, as per reviewed studies)

Result:

PubMed: 39589434DOI: 10.1007/s11325-024-03206-x

Mechanism Graph

Insomnia activates immune response, HPA axis, and neuroendocrine system
↓
This leads to intestinal microbiota disorder, barrier destruction, and increased permeability
↓
Gut microbiota influences CNS via intestinal neurons, releasing neurotransmitters and inflammatory factors
↓
Result: Exacerbation of insomnia symptoms; interventions targeting microbiota may improve sleep

Limitations

  • ⚠This is a narrative review, not a systematic review or meta-analysis, so quantitative synthesis is lacking
  • ⚠The abstract does not provide specific effect sizes or confidence intervals for any intervention
  • ⚠Large cross-sectional studies and fecal transplant studies are still needed to validate safety and efficacy

Frequently Asked Questions

Can probiotics help treat insomnia?▼

According to this review, probiotics are one of the artificial interventions that may improve sleep by affecting neurotransmitter and gut microbial metabolite release, but more research is needed.

How does insomnia affect gut microbiota?▼

Insomnia can induce gut microbiota disorder by activating the immune response, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and neuroendocrine system, leading to intestinal ecological imbalance and increased permeability.

What is the microbiota-gut-brain axis?▼

It is the bidirectional communication pathway between the gut microbiota and the central nervous system, through which gut microbiota can influence brain function and insomnia symptoms via neurotransmitters and inflammatory factors.

Is fecal microbiota transplantation a proven treatment for insomnia?▼

The review mentions fecal microbiota transplantation as a potential intervention, but states that large studies are still needed to validate its safety and efficacy.

Products

Affiliate links coming soon. We only recommend products that match the doses and forms used in the cited research.

References

  1. 1.Liu L, Zhu JW, Wu JL, Li MZ, Lu ML, Yu Y, Pan L. "Insomnia and intestinal microbiota: a narrative review.." Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung, 2024. PMID: 39589434 DOI: 10.1007/s11325-024-03206-x
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.