Context: According to the criteria of the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD-3), it is estimated that the prevalence of insomnia in the general population varies between 6.6% and 12%. Insomnia is a sleep disturbance related to a reduction in the quality or quantity of satisfactory sleep. Among the available treatments, there are both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. One recent possible non-pharmacological approach that has been suggested is based on the use of probiotics and the gut-brain axis. There has been increasing scientific focus on this area because of the suggested importance of enteric microbiota in relation to many aspects of health. It has been proposed that probiotics can be used to interact with the intestinal environment to benefit individuals suffering from a variety of conditions. In relation to sleep, some studies have indicated that gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) produced by the intestinal microbiota may influence the central nervous system (CNS) through the vagus nerve and have an influence on sleep. In this sense, Lactobacillus is one of the major GABA producing bacteria in the gut microbiota.
Objective: Our hypothesis is that supplementation with Lactobacillus as a probiotic might improve sleep pattern and quality, acting as an ally in the treatment of insomnia.
Design: In the present study, a search was conducted in Pubmed and Google Scholar databases, looking for articles with themes related to probiotics, intestinal microbiota and sleep.
Results: No clinical trials were found that evaluated the effect of probiotics for sleep disorders in humans.Conclusions • Research and clinical use of probiotics have been growing due to their health benefits in several areas. In addition, the use of probiotics for sleep and emotional disorders, such as insomnia, stress, anxiety and depression, is gaining space. This way, future research can help developing complementary treatments for people with insomnia and other sleep disorders.