Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common type of sleep apnea, affecting nearly one billion people worldwide. However, new research indicates that eating a diet high in wholesome plant-based foods, such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes, can help prevent OSA.

Using dietary data from 14,210 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHANES), the study—which was published in ERJ Open Research—found that individuals with the highest consumption of plant-based foods had a 19% lower risk of developing sleep apnea compared to those with the lowest intake.

Furthermore, it was discovered that this type of diet reduced risks for males more than for women. The scientists concluded that this finding suggests the need for more individualized dietary interventions.

With sleep apnea, breathing stops and resumes frequently during the night, resulting in loud snoring that may include choking or snorting noises. The illness is known to triple the risk of cardiac death as well as cardiometabolic disorders like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, which involves a hose attached to a mask or nosepiece that provides constant air pressure while the patient sleeps, is used by many people with OSA.

Obesity is the primary risk factor for OSA, along with a big neck circumference, drinking, smoking, and sleeping on one’s back. Treatment aimed at lessening the severity of the illness usually entails dietary and exercise changes as well as lifestyle adjustments.

“Most dietary intervention studies focused on OSA have emphasized weight reduction via caloric restriction and specific dietary elements, rather than holistic dietary patterns,” the study authors wrote.

Researchers separated the responses into three categories: unhealthy plant-based diets (refined grains, potatoes, sugar-sweetened drinks, sweets, desserts, and salty foods), animal foods (animal fat, dairy, eggs, fish or seafood, meat, and miscellaneous animal foods), and healthy plant-based diets (whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, tea, and coffee).

Inquiries were also made of respondents to ascertain whether they were likely to have OSA.

Not only did the researchers find that people with the plant-based diets had an approximately one-fifth lower risk of OSA, but they also found that people who ate predominantly vegetarian diets had a lower risk as well. Those who ate a lot of the unhealthy plant-based foods, on the other hand, were at a 22% higher risk than those who ate fewer of these meals.

Although the exact reason for the impact of a healthy plant-based diet on OSA risk remains unknown, the authors speculate that it may be related to decreased inflammation and a decreased likelihood of obesity.

Numerous components of a healthy, plant-based diet, such as high concentrations of antioxidant nutrients like vitamins C and E, high concentrations of B vitamins, and low concentrations of harmful dietary elements like nitrates and nitrites, have anti-inflammatory properties.

“The evidence presented in this study highlights the significant influence of plant-based diets on OSA risk, with particular emphasis on the protective role of diets like the healthy plant-based diet,” the authors wrote. “Such findings prompt consideration for re-evaluation of dietary recommendations, to a shift towards emphasizing healthy plant-based diets that are rich in anti-inflammatory components and antioxidant nutrients and low in harmful dietary factors.”