Heliyon 10 , e31553 (2024)
Research interest nonetheless expanded considerably through the 1980s and 1990s, as investigators began exploring DSIP's broader neuroendocrine roles, including its interactions with the HPA axis, circadian timing systems, and stress-response pathways, establishing the compound as a multifunctional regulatory neuropeptide whose biological significance extends well beyond its original sleep-focused characterization

Clinically, observational studies have linked specific microbiome unit reduced microbial diversity, depletion of butyrate-producing taxa, and an altered estrobolome to higher breast cancer risk or more aggressive phenotypes, and small interventional trials and pilot studies have explored probiotic supplementation (commonly Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains) (176), showing encouraging signals such as improvement in systemic inflammatory markers, attenuation of gastrointestinal and mucosal toxicities during chemotherapy, mitigation of antibiotic-associated diarrhoea, modest improvements in metabolic parameters and bone health, and favourable changes in gut microbial composition
OBrien, S