Dietary and cardio-metabolic risk factors in patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea: cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundLittle is known about the role of dietary intake in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), which could prove important in improving clinical outcomes for people with obesity and/or cardiovascular disease within these populations. Reduction in energy intake typically results in weight loss, markedly improving metabolic parameters and ameliorating OSA severity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of dietary and cardio-metabolic risk factors with OSA severity.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study. A total of 75 volunteers at risk of OSA were recruited from 153 patients suffering from sleep disturbance at the Department of Pulmonology, Allergology and Respiratory Oncology at the Poznan University of Medical Sciences. Polysomnography was used for OSA diagnosis. Sleep quality was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Blood pressure, parameters of glucose (fasting glucose, glucose tolerance test) and lipid metabolism (TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TG) were assessed using routine enzymatic methods. Dietary intake was evaluated by 24-hr dietary recalls and Food Frequency Questionnaire. Ordinal logistic regression models were used for association of background characteristics and dietary intake with OSA severity. All analyses were adjusted for age, sex, BMI, smoking and alcohol intake.ResultsA higher percentage of smokers were observed in patients with mild OSA, while alcohol intake was the highest in severe OSA patients. Approximately 60% of the studied patients were self-reported poor sleepers. Results from ordinal logistic regression models showed that higher intakes of alcohol intake were associated with increased odds of severe OSA; whereas higher HDL-C levels were associated with lower odds (OR 0.01; 95% CI [0.0003–0.55]). Significantly higher odds of high OSA severity were observed in patients with disturbed sleep stages and obstructive sleep apnea. Moreover, the investigation of nutrient intake in relation to OSA severity showed that a higher intake of dietary fiber was associated with decreased OSA severity (OR 0.84; 95% CI [0.71–0.98]).ConclusionsThe severity of OSA is related to higher alcohol consumption and disturbed sleep. The significantly lower dietary fiber intake in patients with severe OSA is of particular importance for dietary consulting in clinical practice, which may positively influence cardiometabolic outcomes.

Association between obstructive sleep apnea and alcohol, caffeine and tobacco: A meta‐analysis

“…This meta‐analysis investigated the available evidence on the association between OSA and alcohol, caffeine and tobacco. Studies indicate associations between tobacco and OSA, and alcohol and OSA, however, conclusive evidence was not found until now. Based on the current available literature and on the eligibility criteria established for this systematic review, results indicate OSA is to be associated with the use of alcohol, but there is not enough scientific evidence to confirm the association between OSA and tobacco.…”

“…Alcohol was too associated with significant increases arterial oxygen desaturation and the number of apneic events in healthy men . Stelmach‐Mardas et al showed that a higher intake of alcohol was significantly associated with increased odds of being in an OSA category of higher severity as compared to non‐OSA (OR = 1.03, 95%CI = 1.01‐1.04).…”

Androgens modulate chronic intermittent hypoxia effects on brain and behavior

“…People diagnosed with SA are at higher risk to develop hypertension, metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) (Grandner, 2017; Kapur et al, 2002; Lavie and Lavie, 2009; Saaresranta et al, 2016; Shao et al, 2015; Stelmach-Mardas et al, 2017; Yeh et al, 2016). Key characteristics of all these disorders include inflammation, oxidative stress, and, in men, low testosterone (reviewed in (Dai et al, 2014)).…”

Cluster analysis identifies a pathophysiologically distinct subpopulation with increased serum leptin levels and severe obstructive sleep apnea

“…In our study, we hypothesized that the effects of CPAP were high in groups that had metabolic dysfunction or central nervous system resistance to leptin's ventilation promoting effect. We also hypothesized that these groups could have reduced cardiovascular risk [20][21][22].…”