Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis in Sleep and Psychiatric Disorders: Shared Inflammatory, Metabolic, and Neural Mechanisms

The community of intestinal microorganisms significantly influences neural activity, metabolic regulation, and immune responses through its two-way communication with the brain. An expanding body of evidence indicates that imbalances in gut microbes are associated with various metabolic and neuropsychiatric disorders, such as sleep apnea, anxiety, depression, obesity, and disturbances in eating behavior. The review compiles both clinical and experimental evidence to clarify the shared inflammatory, metabolic, and neurological pathways that link alterations in gut microbes with sleep-related and psychiatric conditions.Sleep disorders—particularly obstructive sleep apnea—show a reduction in butyrate-producing bacteria (such as Ruminococcaceae and Faecalibacterium) alongside an expansion of lactate-generating groups (like Lactobacillales), reflecting hypoxia-associated microbial disruption and heightened systemic inflammation.In anxiety and depressive disorders, decreased synthesis of short-chain fatty acids and increased levels of Proteobacteria and Clostridium sensu stricto indicate weakened intestinal integrity and altered tryptophan processing, potentially impairing serotonin-related signaling.In metabolic and eating disorders, disruptions in microbial balance affect appetite control, energy extraction, and immune pathways, with Ruminococcus gnavus and Akkermansia muciniphila identified as influential taxa in obesity and anorexia nervosa.Age-associated microbial decline and heightened inflammatory states may further intensify neurodegenerative processes and cognitive impairment.Probiotic supplementation has demonstrated potential benefits by improving cognitive adaptability, stress tolerance, and neurotrophic pathways such as BDNF, emphasizing the therapeutic relevance of microbiome-based strategies.To establish causal relationships and enhance therapeutic strategies, future research will need to incorporate longitudinal approaches, multi-omics analyses, and personalized microbiome-focused interventions.

کلیدواژه ها:

Gut microbiota ، Gut–brain axis ، Sleep disorders ، Anxiety ، Probiotics