In fact, work has shown that, for individuals with depression, resetting their circadian rhythm through sleep deprivation may address their depression. This is interesting since we now know that the gut is also responsible for much of our emotional life.

Researchers discovered that sleep deprivation has a major impact on the composition of the gut microbiome. The lack of sleep might cause a bacterial imbalance in the gut, which may result in digestive disorders and other health issues. Now the research related to sleep and physical or emotional well-being has also entered the world of work where shift workers have been seen as more vulnerable to certain ailments because of their circadian disruption, but it might also be something in their gut.

The gut microbiome can affect sleep quality, and abnormalities in gut health may cause sleep disturbances. It has been noted that “…the gut microbiota (GM), a vast and extraordinarily complex ecosystem located in human gastrointestinal tract that oversees an array of critical bodily functions, has become a popular focus among researchers.” And one of the areas of interest is this sleep relationship.

The gut-brain axis, a network of communication between the gut and the brain, is crucial for controlling sleep. The relationships between the gut microbiota and the brain shed light on how the gut might affect sleep-wake cycles. And disorders including irritable bowel syndrome suffer from diminished sleep quality, which may be a two-way street between cause and effect.

Research highlights the impact of circadian rhythm disruption on gut health. Circadian disruption alters the microbiota in the gut and speeds up the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disorders, according to studies. In fact, it might be the microbiome that stabilizes circadian rhythm.

The connection between sleep and intestinal health is intricate and intertwined. Both sleep deprivation and gut health abnormalities can affect the composition of the gut microbiota. The circadian rhythm and the gut-brain axis both play significant roles in moderating this reciprocal link. For general health and well-being, it’s essential to take care of both gut health and sleep quality.

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Date of Release: Nov. 11, 2021

BRISBANE, Australia,  /PRNewswire/ — Results published in Cell, led by Mater Research and The University of Queensland, show that dietary restriction drives microbiome diversity changes in autistic individuals.

In the largest study in the field to date, researchers analyzed stool samples using Microba’s metagenomic analysis, alongside other clinical and biological measures, to identify associations between the gut microbiome and diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The collaborative study examined the complex relationship between the microbiome, diet, and other traits in autistic individuals, leveraging samples and dietary data of 247 children from the Australian Autism Biobank and Queensland Twin Adolescent Brain Project and involving more than 40 researchers across Australia.

Chloe Yap from Mater Research and The University of Queensland and lead author on the paper explained that the research represents a critical advancement in developing an evidence base on the gut microbiome-autism link, and challenges existing findings within the field.

“With Microba’s expertise, we were able to achieve high-resolution taxonomic information about the microbiome, as well as the functional information, to really examine the microbiome community at a deeper level than has been done before to investigate what link – if any – may exist.”

“While the data did not demonstrate a direct association between the microbiome and a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the quality of that data enabled us to find that behavior and dietary preferences were driving the changes observed in the microbiome, with a less diverse diet resulting in a less diverse microbiome,” Ms. Yap said.

Given the increasing coverage on changes observed in the gut microbiome of people on the autism spectrum, Dr. Jake Gratten, senior study investigator and head of Mater Research’s Cognitive Healthy Genomics Group, said the results were significant.

“Microbiome-based interventions claiming to treat or minimize autistic traits are becoming more common, but there is yet to be convincing evidence that the microbiome drives autism,” Dr. Gratten said.

“Our findings provide much-needed clarity to parents and autistic people about the autism-microbiome link, something that was only possible using the latest technology. What our results highlight is that rather than relying on “fad” diets, we need to better support families at mealtimes,” he added.

Associate Professor Lutz Krause, Chief Scientific Officer at Microba and contributing author on the paper, said these results demonstrate the importance of high-quality research in investigating the microbiome and health connection.

“What we can see from this research is that precise and comprehensive measurement, with rich metadata associated with each sample, is critical in uncovering the complexity of the microbiome and elucidating the various factors that may be influencing the results,” he said.

“This level of precision is at the core of Microba’s approach, and it’s exciting to see our research partners making important new discoveries to advance the knowledge of how the microbiome is involved in our health to improve people’s lives.”

The paper, Autism-related dietary preferences mediate autism-gut microbiome associations, can be accessed online at the Cell website at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2021.10.015

SOURCE Microba Life Sciences

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