Millions of people worldwide live with obstructive sleep apnea, a common disorder that repeatedly interrupts breathing during sleep. New research in mice suggests that gut microbes and the compounds they produce may play a surprising role in protecting against some of the condition's most serious consequences, including heart disease.
The findings, presented at ASM Microbe 2026, point to a potential new target for preventing and treating cardiovascular complications linked to sleep apnea.
How Sleep Apnea Affects the Body
Obstructive sleep apnea causes repeated pauses in breathing throughout the night. These interruptions reduce oxygen levels and increase carbon dioxide in the body, triggering a range of harmful effects.
Earlier studies have shown that low oxygen levels can alter bile acids, substances produced by the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and released into the intestines to help digest fats. Beyond digestion, bile acids also serve as chemical messengers that interact with receptors throughout the body.
