Since obesity increases the chances of having OSA, various diets have been studied for their effectiveness in treating the disease, either as stand-alone interventions or as part of broader healthy lifestyle changes that include exercise and sleep hygiene. Healthy diets[1] — particularly those with anti-inflammatory potential[2] — have been associated with less OSA risk in observational studies. Specific diet interventions have also shown positive effects in people with OSA. A randomized controlled trial testing a paleo-style diet intervention found that sleep apnea symptoms were reduced by the paleo diet compared to a control low-fat diet, but only in participants on the paleo diet who lost significant amounts of body weight.[3] A randomized controlled trial also found that the Mediterranean diet improved OSA symptoms, regardless of weight loss, when it was combined with a lifestyle intervention that included exercise and healthy sleeping habits.[4]
References
- ^Reid M, Maras JE, Shea S, Wood AC, Castro-Diehl C, Johnson DA, Huang T, Jacobs DR, Crawford A, St-Onge MP, Redline SAssociation between diet quality and sleep apnea in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.Sleep.(2019-Jan-01)
- ^Liu Y, Tabung FK, Stampfer MJ, Redline S, Huang TOverall Diet Quality and Proinflammatory Diet in Relation to Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Three Prospective US Cohorts.Am J Clin Nutr.(2022-Sep-16)
- ^Franklin KA, Lindberg E, Svensson J, Larsson C, Lindahl B, Mellberg C, Sahlin C, Olsson T, Ryberg MEffects of a palaeolithic diet on obstructive sleep apnoea occurring in females who are overweight after menopause-a randomised controlled trial.Int J Obes (Lond).(2022-Oct)
- ^Michael Georgoulis, Nikos Yiannakouris, Ioanna Kechribari, Kallirroi Lamprou, Eleni Perraki, Emmanouil Vagiakis, Meropi D KontogianniThe effectiveness of a weight-loss Mediterranean diet/lifestyle intervention in the management of obstructive sleep apnea: Results of the "MIMOSA" randomized clinical trialClin Nutr.(2020 Sep 6)