Effects of high dietary carbohydrate intake in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Background: This study aimed to characterize the relationship between habitual food intake and OSA.

Methods: The diet of 200 volunteers was evaluated using a Food Frequency Questionnaire. The patients were further allocated to mild, moderate, and severe OSA groups. The relationships of OSA with diet were evaluated using multivariate linear regression analysis and the relationships of the energy supply ratio for three major nutrients and demand with sleep parameters were assessed using correlation analysis.

Results: The analysis of nutrient intake showed a reduced energy intake in non-OSA patients (11953.98 ± 7578.11 kJ, 95% CI 9677.27-14230.70 kJ) as compared to severe-OSA patients (15153.43 ± 6541.89 kJ, 95% CI 13678.46-16628.40 kJ) (p < 0.05). Similarly, lower intake of carbohydrates was observed in non-OSA (249.94 ± 134.96 g/day, 95% CI 209.39-290.48 g/day) as compared to severe OSA patients (348.57 ± 112.34 g/day, 95% CI 323.24-373.90 g/day) (p < 0.05). Compared with participants without OSA, we found that those with OSA had significantly poorer diets, with higher contents of rice (β = 0.195, p = 0.006), wheat (β = 0.236, p = 0.001), stuffed food items (β = 0.278, p < 0.001), fried food (β = 0.193, p = 0.006), dairy products (β = 0.198, p = 0.005), and sweet beverages (β = 0.154, p = 0.030). After adjustment for age, sex, the presence of diabetes, and waist-hip ratio, these relationships remained. Furthermore, a higher proportion of energy intake in the form of carbohydrate was associated with more severe OSA.

Conclusion: The severity of OSA is related to the level of carbohydrate consumption. Poor dietary habits predispose toward body mass gain and a worsening of sleep-related parameters, which may accelerate the pathogenesis of OSA.