Overview
- A randomized, double‑blind, placebo‑controlled trial published 22–23 July 2026 tested oral capsules made from healthy donors' fecal microbes in people with chronic insomnia.
- Overnight polysomnography showed higher sleep efficiency and less wake after sleep onset in the treatment group one month after therapy, giving objective evidence of improved sleep continuity.
- Participants' self‑reported sleep quality was better in the intervention arm from two to six months after treatment, indicating sustained subjective benefit.
- The trial used a treatment protocol that included antibiotic pretreatment for participants receiving the fecal product, reported only mild, short‑lived adverse events and no serious events in the study group.
- Fecal microbiota transplantation is already an approved therapy for recurrent C. difficile infection, but experts say larger trials, clearer mechanisms, donor screening standards and regulatory review are required before this approach can be adopted for insomnia.