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Short-sleep insomnia is associated with altered gut microbiota composition, elevated serum 5-HT, BDNF, and orexin A, and disrupted sleep architecture

In a real-world study, patients with short-sleep insomnia showed significantly reduced sleep efficiency, total sleep time, and NREM/REM sleep durations, alongside prolonged sleep latency and increased wake after sleep onset. Serum levels of 5-HT, BDNF, and orexin A were elevated, and gut microbiota beta-diversity differed from controls, with increased abundance of Evtepia, Anaerostipes, and Blautia_A. Correlation analyses linked gut microbiota, sleep parameters, and serum markers, particularly involving N3 sleep and sleep latency.

Last updated: Aug 30, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

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

Study Evidence

Study 1. Correlation study of polysomnographic parameters, serological markers, and gut microbiota in patients with short-sleep insomnia: a real-world study.

observational

Liu L, Zhou HJ, Li HC, Li MZ, Sun YL, Zhu JW, Wu JL, Lu ML, Yu Y, Han F, Pan L · Frontiers in microbiology (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: Not specified
Intervention: None (observational study comparing insomnia patients to controls)
Outcome: Polysomnographic parameters (sleep efficiency, total sleep time, sleep latency, NREM/REM durations, wake after sleep onset, microarousals, EEG power), serum markers (5-HT, BDNF, melatonin, orexin A), gut microbiota composition (16S rRNA sequencing)
Effect Size: N/A
Population: Patients with short-sleep insomnia and healthy controls

Result:

PubMed: 42661649DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2026.1850738

Mechanism Graph

Altered gut microbiota composition (increased Evtepia, Anaerostipes, Blautia_A) may influence the microbiota-gut-brain axis
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Elevated serum 5-HT, BDNF, and orexin A reflect changes in neurotransmitter and neurotrophin signaling
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These changes correlate with disrupted sleep architecture, particularly reduced N3 sleep and prolonged sleep latency
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Result: Short-sleep insomnia is associated with a distinct gut-brain-serum profile, suggesting potential therapeutic targets

Limitations

  • ⚠Observational design cannot establish causality
  • ⚠Real-world study with potential confounding factors not fully controlled
  • ⚠Sample size not specified in abstract
  • ⚠No longitudinal follow-up to assess temporal relationships

Frequently Asked Questions

What is short-sleep insomnia?▼

Short-sleep insomnia is a subtype of insomnia characterized by objectively short total sleep time, typically less than 6 hours, along with difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep.

How does gut microbiota relate to sleep?▼

The gut microbiota can influence sleep through the microbiota-gut-brain axis, affecting neurotransmitter production and immune signaling, which may modulate sleep regulation.

What were the key serum markers altered in insomnia patients?▼

Serum 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and orexin A were significantly elevated in insomnia patients compared to controls.

Could modulating gut microbiota be a treatment for insomnia?▼

The study suggests that gut microbiota modulation may be a potential therapeutic target, but further research is needed to establish causality and effective interventions.

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References

  1. 1.Liu L, Zhou HJ, Li HC, Li MZ, Sun YL, Zhu JW, Wu JL, Lu ML, Yu Y, Han F, Pan L. "Correlation study of polysomnographic parameters, serological markers, and gut microbiota in patients with short-sleep insomnia: a real-world study.." Frontiers in microbiology, 2026. PMID: 42661649 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2026.1850738
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.