Sleep timing, gut microbiota and cardiometabolic risk across the Epidemiologic Transition

Investigators: Prof Dugas, Prof Lambert and A/Prof Dale Rae

Research into our gut health is novel and currently under the microscope, as evidence is emerging to link a healthy gut microbiome to many aspects of our overall health and well-being. From a sleep and circadian rhythms perspective, when we shorten or disrupt sleep, or desynchronise our circadian rhythms, we may interfere with the rhythmicity of the gut microbiome. We are investigating whether sleep timing and circadian rhythmicity is linked to changes in the gut microbiome, and if so, the affect this might have on risk for obesity in adults of African origin in the US, Seychelles, Jamaica, Ghana and South Africa. This study is funded by the NIH through PI Prof Dugas from Loyola University, Chicago (US) and UCT. Other team members: Prof Luke, A/Prof Crowley, Dr Reutrakul, Prof Gilbert, Prof Layden, Prof Lambert, Prof Bove, Prof Forrester, Prof Riesen Prof Korte, Dr Fei, Dr Choo-Kang, Dr Bedu-Addo.