The relation of dietary components with severity of obstructive sleep apnea in Cypriot patients: A randomized, stratified epidemiological study

Abstract

Background Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is considered a public health problem and its prevalence is increasing at an epidemic rate. The aim of this study was to examine whether individual nutrients (macronutrients, antioxidant vitamins) rather than energy restriction may potentially affect OSA severity in a representative population of Cyprus. Methods A total sample of 303 adults (>18 years old) with Cypriot citizenship and permanently residing in Cyprus were randomly selected. Selected patients have completed the food frequency questionnaire, and a physical activity questionnaire and underwent a sleep study to assess OSA severity. Results Overall, 303 patients were included in this study, 169 (55.8%) had mild OSA (apnea-hypopnea index—AHI <15) and the remaining 83 (27.4%) had moderate to severe OSA (AHI>15). The mean age of all patients was 55.7 years old. Patients with moderate to severe OSA had significant higher BMI levels, higher consumption of calories, higher hip circumference, waist circumference, waist-hip ratio and neck circumference and higher consumption of folic acid compared with the patients with mild OSA (p<0.05). Conclusions The findings suggest that increased energy intake regardless diet macronutrient composition is positively associated with OSA severity whereas higher folic acid intake seems to have a protective role.

Composite dietary antioxidant index and sleep health: a new insight from cross-sectional study

“…Increased intake of vitamin E was associated with longer sleep time [ 27 ] and might reduce memory damage during chronic sleep deprivation [ 28 ]. In contrast, a randomized and stratified epidemiological study including 169 mild OSA patients and 83 moderate/severe OSA patients demonstrated that intake of vitamin A, C, D and E was not linked to OSA severity [ 29 ]. Interestingly, existing evidence from different observational research consistently supported that carotenoid consumption positively associated with sleep quality, which directly supported our findings in current study.…”

Sleep apnoea, gut dysbiosis and cognitive dysfunction

“…A diet rich in red/processed meat with a low whole grain and diet quality was found to aggravate OSA, along with a marked decrease in slow‐wave sleep (N3 sleep) quality, correlating the disease severity with dietary intake [186]. In an epidemiological study of Cypriot patients with OSA, a higher intake of macronutrients and antioxidant vitamins was found to be positively correlated with disease severity [187]. Healthy diets rich in fruits and low in processed foods [188] and an anti‐inflammatory diet were associated with lower OSA risk, as well as disease severity [189].…”