2017 Volume 31 Issue 3 Pages 143-150
The sleep-wake system is regulated by two processes: the sleep homeostasis and the clock-dependent alertness regulated by the central clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Peripheral organs such as the intestine and liver are regulated by the peripheral clocks, and intestinal microbiota show diurnal oscillations in composition and function. Sleep disturbances due to jet lag or sleep deprivation disrupt microbiota diurnal oscillations, impact gastrointestinal tract function, produce dysbiosis, and drive metabolic disarrangements in the host. Regular feeding patterns can restore the diurnal oscillation of intestinal microbiota, promote entrainment to the central clock, and solve sleep disorders. Moreover, treatments with prebiotics and probiotics to improve sleep quality have been extensively investigated.
