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Not getting enough sleep may increase the risk of obesity, depression, high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart attack. A recent study has found a link between gut microbiome diversity and a good night’s sleep.
Twenty-six male adults wore an Actiwatch for 30 days. The Actiwatch recorded quality and duration of sleep by measuring bedtime, get up time, time in bed, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and the number of awakenings during the night. Microbiome diversity, including richness, Shannon diversity, and Inverse Simpson diversity, was assessed via fecal swabs.
The researchers found that all three measurements of microbiome diversity were positively associated with sleep efficiency and total sleep time. They were also negatively associated with wake after sleep onset, although only Shannon diversity was significant. These findings suggest that diversity of gut microbiome may help promote healthier sleep.
The study was conducted by researchers from Nova Southeastern University. It was published on October 7, 2019 in the journal PLOS One.