Blood markers tied to daytime sleepiness

A study connects seven blood metabolites to excessive daytime sleepiness and points to diet and hormones as influencing factors.

Blood molecules linked to daytime sleepiness point to diet and hormone roles

Mass General Brigham researchers have identified seven metabolites in the blood that are linked to excessive daytime sleepiness, based on data from about 6,000 participants in the Hispanic Community Health Study and Replication across other cohorts. The study measured 877 metabolites and used a sleep questionnaire to gauge daytime sleepiness, with replication in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and in data from the UK and Finland. They also found three metabolites that varied by sex. Diet appears to matter, as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids were associated with a lower risk of daytime sleepiness, while tyramine, found in fermented and overripe foods, linked to higher sleepiness in men. Hormonal factors, including sex steroid metabolites that relate to melatonin production, also showed associations with sleep-related processes.

Researchers acknowledge limitations, including relying on questionnaires instead of sleep lab tests and the challenge of interpreting exact metabolite values. They say the findings point to potential treatment targets and suggest that diet and hormones may influence daytime sleepiness, but clinical trials are needed to confirm whether dietary changes or supplements can reduce EDS. Lead author Tariq Faquih notes that a future clinical trial could test omega-3s and omega-6s obtained from the diet to see if they lower risk.

The study hints at a broader shift toward linking nutrition and sleep health. If diet can influence daytime sleepiness, doctors may need to consider dietary guidance as part of treating fatigue and metabolic risk. The use of diverse cohorts helps the findings travel beyond a single population, but metabolite science is still early, and results from questionnaires may not capture the full picture of sleep physiology. A cautious path forward is essential: more rigorous testing in sleep labs and controlled trials to confirm whether changing foods or supplements actually reduces daytime sleepiness and improves health outcomes.

Highlights

The path from blood signals to daily energy is being mapped, but more proof is needed before dietary tweaks become standard guidance.