Fecal microbiota transplantation for insomnia

In late July 2026, researchers at Peking University reported the results of a randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trial in which oral capsules containing fecal microbes from healthy sleepers were given to adults with chronic insomnia. After a brief course of antibiotics, participants receiving the microbiota capsules showed a marked increase in sleep efficiency and a reduction in wake‑after‑sleep‑onset compared with the placebo group. Follow‑up questionnaires indicated that the sleep improvements persisted for two to six months, leading the authors to suggest that gut‑brain axis modulation could be a promising therapeutic avenue for chronic insomnia.

A week later, a broader report highlighted the same Chinese trial and added a separate case series from Europe that combined bacteriophage therapy with fecal microbiota transplantation to treat recurrent urinary‑tract infections in three women. The two patients who received the full combination experienced a long‑term reduction in infections without notable side effects. This expanded coverage underscored growing interest in microbiome‑based interventions for both sleep disorders and antibiotic‑resistant infections, building on the initial insomnia findings.