Sleep Apnea Causes Gut Microbiome Imbalance, Study Says

Human study suggests hypoxia may be driving bacterial changes that lead to related disease

A man with sleep apnea disorder getting treatment in a hospital. Shutterstock

A new study examining the link between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and the gut microbiome links an imbalance in microbiota, known as dysbiosis, with mild, moderate, or severe apnea.

Our body depends on its microbiota—the bacteria, fungi, and viruses that live symbiotically in and on the body—for several functions, including an effective immune response.