A double blinded randomized placebo trial of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80 on sleep quality and gut microbiota in healthy adults

Abstract Human sleep quality is intricately linked to gut health. Emerging research indicates that Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80 has the potential to ameliorate gut microbiota dysbiosis. This randomized, placebo-controlled study evaluated the impact of BLa80 supplementation on sleep q...

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Main Authors: Yinhua Liu, Yanyan Chen, Qingya Zhang, Yanyan Zhang, Fei Xu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95208-2
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author Yinhua Liu
Yanyan Chen
Qingya Zhang
Yanyan Zhang
Fei Xu
author_facet Yinhua Liu
Yanyan Chen
Qingya Zhang
Yanyan Zhang
Fei Xu
author_sort Yinhua Liu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Human sleep quality is intricately linked to gut health. Emerging research indicates that Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80 has the potential to ameliorate gut microbiota dysbiosis. This randomized, placebo-controlled study evaluated the impact of BLa80 supplementation on sleep quality and gut microbiota in healthy individuals. One hundred and six participants were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo (maltodextrin) or BLa80 (maltodextrin + BLa80 at 10 billion CFU/day) for 8 weeks. Sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a validated tool consisting of 18 items assessing seven components of sleep quality over a one-month period, and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), a secondary measure of insomnia severity. Gut microbiota changes were assessed using 16S rRNA sequencing, while the in vitro gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production capacity of BLa80 was analyzed by HPLC. After 8 weeks, the intervention group exhibited a significant reduction in the PSQI total score compared to the placebo group, suggesting improved sleep quality. While no significant changes in alpha diversity were noted, beta diversity differed markedly between groups. The gut microbiota predominantly consisted of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Fusobacteria, collectively accounting for over 99.9% of the gut microbiota. Statistical analysis showed that BLa80 significantly decreased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria phylum and increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes, Fusicatenbacter, and Parabacteroides compared to placebo. PICRUSt2 analysis indicated noteworthy enhancements in the pathways of purine metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and arginine biosynthesis due to BLa80 intervention. Moreover, BLa80 demonstrated notable GABA production, potentially contributing to its effects on sleep quality modulation. These results demonstrate the ability of BLa80 to improve sleep quality through modulating gut microbiota and GABA synthesis, highlighting its potential as a beneficial probiotic strain.
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spelling doaj-art-a8f1ed039ca949af92d1e83345efb4d12025-08-20T03:07:40ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-95208-2A double blinded randomized placebo trial of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80 on sleep quality and gut microbiota in healthy adultsYinhua Liu0Yanyan Chen1Qingya Zhang2Yanyan Zhang3Fei Xu4College of Food Science and Technology, Henan University of TechnologyCollege of Food Science and Technology, Henan University of TechnologyCollege of Food Science and Technology, Henan University of TechnologyDepartment of Food Quality and Safety, Shanghai Business SchoolCollege of Food Science and Technology, Henan University of TechnologyAbstract Human sleep quality is intricately linked to gut health. Emerging research indicates that Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80 has the potential to ameliorate gut microbiota dysbiosis. This randomized, placebo-controlled study evaluated the impact of BLa80 supplementation on sleep quality and gut microbiota in healthy individuals. One hundred and six participants were randomly assigned to receive either a placebo (maltodextrin) or BLa80 (maltodextrin + BLa80 at 10 billion CFU/day) for 8 weeks. Sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a validated tool consisting of 18 items assessing seven components of sleep quality over a one-month period, and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), a secondary measure of insomnia severity. Gut microbiota changes were assessed using 16S rRNA sequencing, while the in vitro gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) production capacity of BLa80 was analyzed by HPLC. After 8 weeks, the intervention group exhibited a significant reduction in the PSQI total score compared to the placebo group, suggesting improved sleep quality. While no significant changes in alpha diversity were noted, beta diversity differed markedly between groups. The gut microbiota predominantly consisted of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Fusobacteria, collectively accounting for over 99.9% of the gut microbiota. Statistical analysis showed that BLa80 significantly decreased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria phylum and increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes, Fusicatenbacter, and Parabacteroides compared to placebo. PICRUSt2 analysis indicated noteworthy enhancements in the pathways of purine metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and arginine biosynthesis due to BLa80 intervention. Moreover, BLa80 demonstrated notable GABA production, potentially contributing to its effects on sleep quality modulation. These results demonstrate the ability of BLa80 to improve sleep quality through modulating gut microbiota and GABA synthesis, highlighting its potential as a beneficial probiotic strain.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95208-2Gut microbiotaSleep qualityHealthy adultsBifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis BLa80Purine and pyrimidine metabolism
spellingShingle Yinhua Liu
Yanyan Chen
Qingya Zhang
Yanyan Zhang
Fei Xu
A double blinded randomized placebo trial of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80 on sleep quality and gut microbiota in healthy adults
Scientific Reports
Gut microbiota
Sleep quality
Healthy adults
Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis BLa80
Purine and pyrimidine metabolism
title A double blinded randomized placebo trial of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80 on sleep quality and gut microbiota in healthy adults
title_full A double blinded randomized placebo trial of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80 on sleep quality and gut microbiota in healthy adults
title_fullStr A double blinded randomized placebo trial of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80 on sleep quality and gut microbiota in healthy adults
title_full_unstemmed A double blinded randomized placebo trial of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80 on sleep quality and gut microbiota in healthy adults
title_short A double blinded randomized placebo trial of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BLa80 on sleep quality and gut microbiota in healthy adults
title_sort double blinded randomized placebo trial of bifidobacterium animalis subsp lactis bla80 on sleep quality and gut microbiota in healthy adults
topic Gut microbiota
Sleep quality
Healthy adults
Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. Lactis BLa80
Purine and pyrimidine metabolism
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95208-2
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