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New blood biomarkers tie diet and hormones to daytime drowsiness
A multisite study led by investigators at Mass General Brigham and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has identified seven circulating metabolites associated with excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), a condition reported by roughly one in three Americans. Published in Lancet eBioMedicine, the analysis links both dietary components and endogenous hormones to the risk of persistent daytime drowsiness, a symptom that independently raises the likelihood of cardiovascular disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes.
The research team screened 877 metabolites—small molecules in blood that reflect metabolism, diet and hormonal state—using samples from about 6,000 participants in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. They replicated the principal findings in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) and population cohorts in the UK and Finland to ensure robustness across populations.
How the study was done
Cohorts, measurements and replication
Investigators combined metabolomic profiling with a validated sleep questionnaire that measures how often a person dozes off in everyday situations. The primary discovery cohort included nearly 6,000 participants; replication occurred across MESA and European cohorts. Using this approach, seven metabolites emerged as consistently associated with EDS, and an additional three compounds showed associations that differed by sex.
Key metabolic signals included omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which were associated with a lower risk of daytime sleepiness, and tyramine, a biogenic amine produced during fermentation and food aging, which correlated with higher sleepiness—especially among men. The study also linked sex steroid metabolites such as progesterone derivatives to pathways that regulate sleep-related hormones including melatonin.
Key discoveries and implications
The identification of metabolites tied to EDS suggests mechanisms by which diet and internal endocrine state modulate daytime alertness. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids are typical components of Mediterranean-style diets and may offer protective effects on alertness, possibly via anti-inflammatory or neural membrane-stabilizing actions. Conversely, tyramine—found in aged cheeses, cured meats and other fermented foods—may exacerbate drowsiness in susceptible individuals.
Because metabolites are measurable in blood, these signals could become accessible biomarkers to screen people at risk for EDS or to monitor interventions. The authors emphasize that the findings point to potential therapeutic targets: dietary modification, targeted supplements, or drugs that alter metabolite pathways could complement sleep hygiene and conventional treatments for sleep disorders.
Limitations and next steps
The authors note several important caveats. First, metabolite quantification can vary across platforms, and absolute concentrations are sometimes difficult to compare between studies. Second, the study relied on a sleepiness questionnaire rather than laboratory-based polysomnography or objective sleepiness tests, which may introduce measurement error. Finally, some metabolites remain chemically unannotated and require further characterization.
Future work proposed by the team includes targeted clinical trials testing whether dietary interventions or supplementation with omega-3/omega-6 fatty acids reduce EDS, and laboratory studies to clarify causal mechanisms. The investigators have also highlighted unknown metabolites for chemical identification and functional testing.
Expert Insight
Dr. Elena Rivera, a sleep physiologist and science communicator not involved in the study, offers context: 'This research elegantly links bloodstream chemistry to a symptom that clinicians see every day. While questionnaires are a practical first step in large cohorts, the replication across diverse populations strengthens the signal. The most exciting outcome is practical: if simple dietary changes or supplements can lower metabolite patterns associated with sleepiness, we could offer low-risk options to many patients.'
Quotes and authorship
Lead author Tariq Faquih, PhD, emphasized that both genetic and dietary influences appear important in EDS. Additional Mass General Brigham authors include Kaitlin S. Potts, Pavithra Nagarajan, Hanna M. Ollila, Tianyi Huang, Clary B. Clish, Susan Redline, Tamar Sofer and Heming Wang. The paper discloses that Susan Redline has consulting relationships with multiple companies and has received loaned equipment for multisite research efforts.
Conclusion
This large metabolomics study links seven blood molecules to excessive daytime sleepiness, highlighting diet-derived fatty acids and hormone-related metabolites as potential modulators of daytime alertness. While causal relationships remain to be proven, the findings point toward measurable biomarkers and testable interventions—ranging from dietary shifts to clinical trials of supplements—that could reduce EDS prevalence and its downstream cardiometabolic risks.
Šaltinis: sciencedaily
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