Sleep Soundly: How Your Diet Influences Sleep Apnea Risk
Discover the link between plant-based diets and obstructive sleep apnea risk. Learn why a healthy diet matters and how it can impact your sleep quality. Read the latest study findings for a better night’s sleep.
Eating a plant-based diet that includes plenty of veggies, fruits, whole grains, and nuts may lower the risk of experiencing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), as per a study in ERJ Open Research. On the flip side, those who consume an unhealthy plant-based diet high in refined carbs, sugary drinks, and high-sugar, high-salt foods are more prone to developing OSA.
People with OSA often snore loudly, experience disrupted breathing throughout the night, and may wake up frequently, leading to fatigue and an increased risk of conditions like high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. This study, led by Dr. Yohannes Melaku from Flinders University in Australia, is one of the first extensive analyses exploring the link between plant-based diets and OSA risk.
The findings suggest that adopting a healthy, plant-based diet could play a role in preventing or treating OSA. Dr. Melaku emphasized the need to understand how overall dietary patterns influence OSA risk, addressing a gap in previous research that mainly focused on calorie restriction, specific dietary elements, and weight loss.
The research involved 14,210 participants in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Their eating habits were categorized into healthy plant-based diets (including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, tea, and coffee), diets high in animal foods, and unhealthy plant-based diets (including refined grains, potatoes, sugary drinks, sweets, desserts, and salty foods). Participants also completed a questionnaire about potential OSA symptoms.
Results showed that individuals with diets rich in plant-based foods were 19% less likely to have OSA compared to those with lower plant-based food intake. Those following a predominantly vegetarian diet also had a lower risk. Conversely, those with diets high in unhealthy plant-based foods faced a 22% higher risk compared to those consuming lower amounts. The study also noted gender differences, with the correlation between a plant-based diet and OSA risk being stronger for men and an unhealthy plant-based diet showing a greater increase in risk for women.
Dr. Melaku emphasized the importance of diet quality in managing OSA risk and noted potential reasons for the connection, such as the anti-inflammatory and obesity-reducing effects of a healthy plant-based diet. The researchers plan to further explore the association between ultra-processed food consumption and OSA risk in the same group, along with studying the long-term interaction between diet and OSA risk. Professor Sophia Schiza, not involved in the study, highlighted the significance of diet modification in managing or preventing OSA and encouraged a balanced, plant-rich diet for overall health.
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