Switching to whole-food, plant-based diet may improve daytime sleepiness in sleep apnea

Consuming a high saturated fat-rich diet causes a higher degree of daytime sleepiness. WFPB dietary pattern, low in saturated fat, is beneficial in weight loss and other health conditions.

Patients with OSA or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) frequently experience excessive daytime sleepiness despite treatment.

In the present study, researchers assessed the Effect of a short-term WFPB diet on daytime sleepiness in OSA patients. They recruited patients from the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville sleep clinic who were diagnosed with OSA and on PAP therapy but had daytime sleepiness with an Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score of 5 or above.

Participants were instructed to follow a strict WFPB diet for 21 days using the Fork Over Knives handbook as a guide.

The key results of the study are:

• Ten participants completed the 21-day WFPB diet.
• Eight participants reported a reduction in daytime sleepiness.
• There was a mean decrease in ESS score of 3.8 in all participants.
• Patients had a significant decrease in ESS score of ≥ 7.
• All participants completed the study with ≥ 90% adherence to a WFPB diet.
• There was a mean weight loss of 4.2 kg in the participants.
• Two participants experienced headaches.

Concluding further, they said, We reported Significant improvement with daytime sleepiness in patients switching to a WFPB diet for 21 days. However, we have not recorded any significant correlation between improvement in ESS and weight loss.

Further reading:

https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/46/Supplement_1/A259/7182199?login=false