Fecal Pills May Cure Insomnia, Study Finds

New clinical trial data indicates that faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) delivered via capsules may offer a novel treatment for insomnia. Researchers explored whether transplanting microbes from healthy sleepers to individuals with insomnia could alleviate sleep disorder symptoms. The study involved about 40 participants receiving FMT with antibiotic pretreatment and a control group receiving placebo.

Results revealed that the FMT-based treatment significantly improved objective sleep continuity and sustained subjective insomnia outcomes. Participants showed enhanced sleep efficiency and reduced wake times after sleep onset. The positive effects were observed to last from two to six months post-treatment.

Researchers noted that the FMT treatment was well-tolerated, with only mild, self-limited adverse events reported. The study also observed an increase in microbial richness and diversity among those treated. These findings provide clinical evidence supporting gut microbiota as a promising therapeutic target for chronic insomnia disorder, strengthening the understanding of the gut-brain axis in regulating sleep.