Study: Cutting out meat may prevent snoring

[New Sancai Compilation and First Release] A new study shows that a person's diet can affect the risk of obstructive sleep apnea.

People who eat a healthy plant-based diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and nuts are less likely to develop sleep apnea, according to findings published February 20 in the journal ERJ Open Research.

On the other hand, people who eat more meat or indulge in unhealthy vegetarian diets high in sugar, carbohydrates, and salt are at greater risk of developing sleep apnea.

"These results highlight the importance of dietary quality in controlling the risk of OSA (obstructive sleep apnea)," said lead researcher Yohannes Melaku of Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia.

Researchers explain that people with sleep apnea often snore, with breathing starting and stopping during the night, resulting in frequent brief awakenings. Sleep apnea increases a person's risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

For the study, the team analyzed responses from more than 14,000 participants in periodic U.S. health and nutrition surveys. Melaku said this is the first large-scale analysis to investigate the link between diet and sleep apnea.

"There are gaps in our understanding of how overall dietary patterns affect OSA risk," Melaku said. "With this study, we hope to bridge this gap and explore the association between different types of plant-based diets and OSA risk."

People whose diets were highest in plant foods were 19% less likely to develop sleep apnea than those whose diets were lowest in plant foods.

However, the results showed that people whose diets were high in unhealthy plant-based foods had a 22% higher risk than those who ate no refined grains, potatoes, sugary drinks, sweets, desserts and salty foods.

Researchers suggest that a plant-based diet may be more effective in reducing the risk of sleep apnea in men. At the same time, an unhealthy plant-based diet puts women at a significantly increased risk of developing sleep apnea.

"Noting these sex differences is important because they underscore the need for individualized dietary intervention for people with OSA." Melaku said the study cannot explain exactly why a plant-based diet reduces the risk of sleep apnea.

"A healthy plant-based diet may reduce inflammation and obesity. These are key factors in OSA risk." Melaku speculated. "A diet rich in anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidants and low in harmful dietary elements can affect fat mass, inflammation and even muscle tone, all of which are associated with OSA risk."

The researchers now plan to study the link between ultra-processed foods and sleep apnea risk, as well as the long-term interactions between diet and sleep apnea.

"The results of this study suggest that changing our diet may help control or avoid OSA," said Dr. Sophia Schiza, chair of the European Respiratory Society Sleep Disorders Congress.

"Realize that including a variety of vegetables, fruits and whole grains in our diets, while minimizing the consumption of unhealthy foods and sugary drinks, can greatly improve our overall health. We need to make it as easy as possible for everyone to take Eat healthy," said Schiza, an assistant professor of respiratory medicine at the University of Crete in Greece who was not involved in the study.

(Compiled by: Wang Jimin)

(Editor: Jiang Qiming)

(Source of the article: Compiled and published by New Sancai)