Gut Microbiota and Bacterial Translocation in Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological sensorimotor disorder defined by an urge to move the legs when at rest that increase in the evening and at night. The pathophysiology of RLS remains poorly understood, but brain iron deficiency plays a major role. Iron absorption is an active process located in enterocytes of the proximal bowel, and is inhibited by hepcidin. The gut microbiota plays a central role in intestinal absorption, and in the maturation of the immune system. An imbalance in the microbiota, known as dysbiosis, could lead to a decrease in iron absorption, inflammation of the intestinal epithelium, and an increase in its permeability, thus favoring bacterial translocation and chronic systemic inflammation. Numerous studies showed an association between RLS and gastrointestinal diseases: Irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. However, no study has examined the gut microbiota in RLS. The investigators hypothesize that there is an imbalance of gut microbiota in patients with RLS, favoring an increased intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation, leading to chronic inflammation and reduced iron bioavailability.