Mediterranean Diet + Exercise Can Reduce OSA Symptoms

Hi All

The link to the latest on obstructive sleep apnea from Science Daily -

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 093043.htm

and the large print version of the main story is below - but there are other articles of interest there too -

Mediterranean Diet and Exercise Can Reduce Sleep Apnea Symptoms

Eating a Mediterranean diet combined with physical activity can help to improve some of the symptoms of sleep apnea, according to new research.

ScienceDaily (Nov. 2, 2011) —

Eating a Mediterranean diet combined with physical activity can help to improve some of the symptoms of sleep apnea, according to new research. The study, which is published online in the European Respiratory Journal, looked at the impact a Mediterranean diet can have on obese people with sleep apnea, compared to those on a prudent diet.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) causes frequent pauses of breathing to occur during sleep, which disrupts a person's normal sleeping pattern. It is one of the most prevalent sleep-related breathing disorders with approximately 2-4% of the adult population experiencing the condition. This percentage increases up to 20-40% with obesity, and weight loss is often an essential part of the recommended treatment plan.

The researchers, from the University of Crete in Greece, examined 40 obese patients suffering from OSAS. Twenty patients were given a prudent diet to follow, while the other 20 followed a Mediterranean diet. Both groups were also encouraged to increase their physical activity, mainly involving walking for at least 30 minutes each day.

In both groups, the patients also received continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy which involves wearing a mask that generates an air stream, keeping the upper airway open during sleep.

The researchers monitored the patients during a sleep study, known as polysomnography. This involved monitoring several markers for OSAS, including electrical activity in the brain, eye movements and snoring. The patients were examined at the start of the study and again 6 months later.

The results showed that people following the Mediterranean diet had a reduced number of disturbances, known as apneas, during the rapid eye movement (REM) stage of sleep, which usually accounts for approximately 25% of total sleep during the night.

The findings also revealed that people following the Mediterranean diet also showed a greater adherence to the calorie restricted diet, an increase in physical activity and a greater decrease in abdominal fat.

The results of this small sample did show an improvement during one stage of sleep for people with sleep apnea, however it did not show an overall improvement in severity of the condition. The authors suggest that further studies in a larger sample are required to fully understand the benefits of this diet.

Christopher Papandreou, lead author for the research, said: "This is the first study examining the impact of the Mediterranean diet in combination with physical activity on OSAS via changes in the human body. Our results showed that the number of disturbances during REM sleep was reduced more in the Mediterranean diet group than the other group. Recent reports have related an increase in disturbances during REM sleep with the risk of developing significant systemic consequences like diabetes type II. However, its clinical significance remains unclear. Finally, more studies are needed to examine the effect of the above diet on this sleep-related breathing disorder taking into account its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties."

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by European Lung Foundation.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal Reference:

1. C. Papandreou, S. E. Schiza, I. Bouloukaki, C. M. Hatzis, A. G. Kafatos, N. M. Siafakas, N. E. Tzanakis. Effect of mediterranean diet vs prudent diet combined with physical activity on OSAS: a randomised trial. European Respiratory Journal, 2011; DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00103411

cheers

Mars

It is just your old same same "They are fat, they have to diet"

Besides Mediterean diet is old hat. The latest is The Nordic Diet

Overweight participants who followed the “New Nordic Diet,” developed in part by Noma co-founder Claus Meyer, lost 3.1 kilos (6.8 pounds), on average, after 12 weeks, according to the University of Copenhagen, which conducted the 26-week study. That compares with a 1.6 kilo-loss for participants who ate typical meals of meat, potatoes, cereal and spaghetti.

“We hope the Nordic diet can be a legitimate alternative to the Mediterranean diet,” Thomas Larsen, an associate professor of nutrition and the study’s head, said in an interview. “The ingredients are the same as Noma, the fact that it tastes good is the same, but the cost is not the same.”

Mediterranean Diet + Exercise Can Reduce OSA Symptoms

They left something out.

Mediterranean Diet + Exercise + CPAP

Yum. Reindeer.
Probably a bit like elk--double yum.

cpapman1 wrote:Although you should consider losing weight and exercise I don't believe this would fully cure OSA, but it might have a lasting effect on the condition.... In some cases... Very few but some.

I have seen a recent study (google) that claimed 10% of patients in the study who lost large amounts of weight were cured of OSA.

That, of course, means weight loss did not cure OSA in 90% of the patients.

Hey, aren't pizzas Mediterranean? Think I will eat a big one in front of the ballgame tonight.

I have seen a recent study (google) that claimed 10% of patients in the study who lost large amounts of weight were cured of OSA.

That, of course, means weight loss did not cure OSA in 90% of the patients.

That's exactly what scares me about studies like this Meditrerranean Diet study report--I think it's kind of irresponsible. Too many people with OSA will read something like that, diet for a week or two, lose a few pounds and think that they can stop using their CPAP. Any excuse . . .

Remember, never, never, never discontinue CPAP without a confirming PSG that shows you no longer need it. Don't make assumptions that could impair your life.

Janknitz wrote:
That's exactly what scares me about studies like this Meditrerranean Diet study report--I think it's kind of irresponsible. Too many people with OSA will read something like that, diet for a week or two, lose a few pounds and think that they can stop using their CPAP. Any excuse . . .

Remember, never, never, never discontinue CPAP without a confirming PSG that shows you no longer need it. Don't make assumptions that could impair your life.

The same kinds of claims are made for diabetics - eat this way, exercise. lower your BG and you're CURED!!! Trouble is it's often dieticians and doctors who claim this.

I've had two unbelievable statements from highly qualified doctors -
From my dentist - "if you lost a few pounds and did some cardio to strengthen your airways, you wouldn't need to use CPAP"
From my cardiologist - "if you lost a few pounds, you'd cure your T2 diabetes for good"

Yes, the Mediterranean (and any other low-carb eating plan like Atkins) will definitely help you to lose weight and lower your BG, but it will never cure either OSA or diabetes.

Cheers,
xena

Janknitz wrote:

Remember, never, never, never discontinue CPAP without a confirming PSG that shows you no longer need it.

Don't make assumptions that could impair your life.

Hi Everybody

I wonder, how would you know to have another PSG unless you had already stopped cpap, and discovered evidence that you may no longer need the machine. Only then would it be reasonable to have another PSG to confirm or refute that cpap was no longer necessary.

I also have to wonder how we would ever achieve anything if we followed the above advice. I accept that the advice is well meant, but hardly conducive to a life well lived.

By taking chances, and making assumptions, we push our boundaries and break through our "supposed" limitations. And I ask - have any of us lived a life where we do not take risks in order to gain something in our lives, that otherwise we would miss out on ?

Do we really want a "No Risk" existence ?

What a boring, restricted and fearful life that would be And I am pretty sure that none of us would countenance such a life. Making assumptions and taking risks is what human progress is all about.

cheers

Mars

PS

and for those who wrote as though the report was talking about a cure, it was not -

the study said

Eating a Mediterranean diet combined with physical activity can help to improve some of the symptoms of sleep apnea,

VVV wrote:

Mediterranean Diet + Exercise Can Reduce OSA Symptoms

They left something out.

Mediterranean Diet + Exercise + CPAP

No they didn't -

from the report -

In both groups, the patients also received continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy which involves wearing a mask that generates an air stream, keeping the upper airway open during sleep.

cheers

Mars

xenablue wrote:the Mediterranean (and any other low-carb eating plan like Atkins)

Attention. The following diets are called low carb by people who do not know better:

the Mediterranean diet
Sugarbusters
South Beach
Zone

mars wrote: Mediterranean Diet + Exercise Can Reduce OSA Symptoms

The title is misleading. All of the subjects in the study also used CPAP.

So Well wrote:

mars wrote: Mediterranean Diet + Exercise Can Reduce OSA Symptoms

The title is misleading. All of the subjects in the study also used CPAP.

But the subjects on a "prudent diet" did not have a decrease in apneas during REM sleep, whilst those on a Mediterranean Diet did.

So I cannot see that my title is incorrect.

What I think was probably a waste of time was me posting it in the first place, given that the report is so easily misunderstood.

cheers

Mars