The relationship between sleep deprivation and intestinal microbiota: a literature review

Abstract

Introduction: Today's society, due to a dysfunctional pattern, lives a lifestyle marked by sleep deprivation (SD). The study aims to study the influence of such habits on gastrointestinal health, in which a bidirectional causal relationship is observed, such that SD causes an imbalance in the gastrointestinal microbiota, in the same way that gastrointestinal dysbiosis causes changes in the circadian rhythm. Objective: The following work aims to analyze the relationship between sleep deprivation and the intestinal microbiota. Methodology: This is a literature review, with the research being developed through its guiding question: "What are the consequences of sleep deprivation on the intestinal microbiota?". The searches were performed through research in the PubMed Central (PMC) database. The descriptors were used in combination with the Boolean term "AND" and "OR": ((gut microbiota) AND (sleep deprivation)). Articles from the last 5 years (2019 to 2024) were selected, resulting in 63 publications, of which 7 were selected; articles that did not relate dysbiosis to sleep or whose main subject did not allude to the topic were excluded. Results: All articles analyzed addressed a disorder in the human microbiota as a consequence of SP. Studies carried out in rats induced to SP observed, after 7 days, an increase in the levels of lipoproteins, pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, and the production of secondary bile acids; and reduced levels of tryptophan. In addition, ineffective sleep contributed to changes in the intestinal flora, increasing the colonization of Akkermansia muciniphila, Muribaculum intestinale and decreasing the levels of Bacteroides caecimuris. These factors chronically lead to neuroinflammation of the brain-gut axis, which leads to the emergence of depressive, anxious and cognitive decline symptoms, as well as gastrointestinal and immune system changes. Finally, melatonin supplementation has been shown to be effective in improving these symptoms in chronic PS. Conclusion: It is therefore concluded that establishing a quality sleep routine prevents intestinal, psychiatric and other comorbidities from occurring.