Study links children’s bedtime to gut health, finds early sleepers have greater microbial diversity in gut flora

Researchers from the Department of Child Rehabilitation of China have discovered significant differences in the gut microbiota of children who go to bed early compared to those who go to bed late. The study found that children who went to bed earlier had greater microbial diversity in their gut flora.

Beneficial bacteria like Akkermansia muciniphila were more abundant in early sleepers. These bacteria are associated with maintaining gut health and have been linked to healthy cognitive functions.

Previous studies have shown that adequate sleep improves academic performance, physical growth, and is associated with healthier BMI levels. The current study investigated the relationship between children’s sleep habits and their gut microbiota. In an article entitled “Characteristics of the intestinal flora in children who go to bed early or late”, published in Scientific reportsResearchers analyzed the genomics of fecal samples from 88 healthy children aged 2 to 14 years.

The children were divided into two groups based on their bedtime: those who slept before 9:30 p.m. and those who slept after. For two weeks, sleep diaries recorded factors such as time to fall asleep, nighttime awakenings, sleep efficiency and sleep quality.

Genomic analysis found that children who went to bed early had a greater abundance of certain beneficial gut bacteria. Specifically, Akkermansia muciniphila was significantly more prevalent in the early bedtime group.

Other bacteria elevated among early sleepers included Holdemania filiformis, Firmicutes CAG-95 bacteria, Streptococcus sp. A12, Weissella confusea, Clostridium sp. CAG-253, Alistipes finegoldii and Eubacterium siraeum. Additionally, mushroom CAG-83 levels were higher in the early bedtime group.

At the phylum and genus levels, unclassified Verrucomicrobia, Akkermansia, Holdemania, and Firmicutes showed greater abundance in the early sleep group.

Correlation analysis between sleep measures and microbial species revealed that Akkermansia muciniphila and Alistipes finegoldii were positively correlated with the time taken to fall asleep. Clostridium sp. CAG-253 was negatively correlated with sleep onset latency.

Alistipes finegoldii was positively correlated with total sleep duration, but negatively correlated with dream frequency and sleep efficiency. Negative correlations were observed between Alistipes finegoldii, Akkermansia muciniphila and Holdemania filiformis with respect to sleep quality.

Metabolic analysis showed increased activity of amino acid metabolism and neurotransmitter regulation in early sleepers. These pathways are crucial for brain function and development, suggesting a possible relationship with gut health and cognition.

“These differences in species diversity and metabolic pathways suggest that sleep patterns significantly influence the gut microbiota,” the research paper states. “Our findings could lead to new pharmacological interventions targeting sleep disorders in children.”

Correlation without causality

The finding could correlate sleep patterns with microbiome results or the reverse, where the microbiome influences sleep patterns. While the study focused on the first scenario, the children’s sleep schedules matched their own usual bedtimes, without any intervention from the researchers.

These correlations have great potential to be followed in multiple directions to determine the causal mechanisms behind the sleep-gut-cognitive connection.

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