People with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) experience repeated interruptions in breathing while sleeping that are due to temporary obstructions of their upper airways. Although it is common for them to snore, have nocturnal awakenings and not get a restful rest, many times they are not aware of the problem and it is their partner who realizes what is happening to them.
However, the chances of developing this condition and causing loud snoring as a result can be significantly reduced by following a plant-based diet, according to a study by sleep researchers at Flinders University, who have also found that adults Those who regularly consumed an unhealthy diet rich in sugars, refined carbohydrates, starches and salt were more likely to develop apnea and have poor quality sleep.
Researchers analyzed the diets and sleep patterns of 14,210 people who participated in the US National Health and Nutrition Survey, which included details of healthy, unhealthy and pro-vegetarian diets compared to participants’ responses to their survey. risk of OSA, and have published their findings in ERJ Open Research.
“This is one of the first large-scale analyzes of the relationship between plant-based diets and sleep apnea,” says Dr Yohannes Melaku, a researcher at Flinders University’s School of Medicine and Public Health, who adds: “It reinforces the idea that a healthy diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and nuts will reduce the risk of OSA and associated conditions such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and even heart attack and stroke.”
It is estimated that up to 1 billion people between the ages of 30 and 69 worldwide suffer from mild to severe sleep apnea. People with undiagnosed and untreated OSA may experience daytime sleepiness and have an increased risk of accidents, as well as heart, kidney, and metabolic health complications.
The type of diet can increase or reduce the risk of apnea
Although risk factors for OSA may arise from genetics or behavior, including diet, previous research has primarily focused on the impact of caloric restriction, specific dietary items, and weight loss. “With this study, we wanted to address that gap in overall dietary patterns and explore the association between different types of plant-based diets and the risk of OSA.”
Participants were asked to explain everything they had eaten in the last 24 hours. This information was categorized based on whether people were consuming a healthy plant-based diet (including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, tea, and coffee), or a diet rich in animal foods (including animal fat, dairy, eggs, fish or shellfish and meat). They also examined whether people were consuming an unhealthy plant-based diet (including refined grains, potatoes, sugary drinks, sweets, desserts and salty foods).
The study found that people with diets higher in plant-based foods were 19% less likely to suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, compared to those with diets low in these foods. Those who followed a mostly vegetarian diet also had a lower risk.
“Diets rich in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant substances and low in harmful dietary elements can influence fat mass, inflammation, and even muscle tone, and reduce the risk of apnea”
However, people with a diet high in unhealthy plant foods had a 22% higher risk, compared to those who consumed low amounts of these foods. Differences in risks were also observed for women and men, with a plant-based diet more correlated with a decreased risk of OSA in men and an unhealthy plant-based diet with a greater increased risk in women.
“This research doesn’t tell us how diet changes OSA risk, but it could be that a healthy plant-based diet reduces inflammation and obesity, key factors in OSA risk,” says co-author from Flinders University, Professor Danny Eckert, Director of the Adelaide Sleep Health Institute, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, adding: “Diets high in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant substances and low in harmful dietary elements may influence fat mass, inflammation, and even muscle tone, all relevant to OSA risk.”
Dr. Melaku notes that these new insights into how diet may influence OSA risk also have the potential to modulate other pathophysiological mechanisms, possibly affecting various health conditions, from obesity to cardiovascular disease. “Furthermore, the sex-specific patterns observed require more personalized dietary interventions,” he adds.
The researchers’ new goal is to investigate the links between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and the risk of OSA in the same group of people. They also plan to study the interaction between diet and long-term OSA risk.
“Additional research with longitudinal data is needed to substantiate these new findings, particularly focusing on how plant-based diets affect the risk of sleep apnea, especially in the context of maintaining body weight,” concludes the researcher.
