Obstructive sleep apnea and the gut microbiota – mechanisms and opportunities

Purpose of review The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and the gut microbiota is increasingly recognized, yet the involvement of specific microbial taxa and the direction of causality remain unclear. This review synthesizes current evidence linking gut dysbiosis with disordered sleep, with a focus on OSA and its associated complications. Recent findings Studies of alpha and beta microbial diversity in OSA patients, sampled at different sites, have had inconsistent results. Members of the genus Fusobacterium and family Lachnospiraceae are enriched in some studies of OSA and have been linked with gut barrier permeability and complications, such as hypertension. OSA treatments, including positive airway pressure and GLP-1 agonists, have varying effects on the microbiota. Summary Microbiota-targeted therapies may reduce OSA-related complications, but these potential treatments require additional well designed trials to clarify the bidirectional relationship between gut microbes and sleep-related health.