Effects of a Palaeolithic Diet on Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Occurring in Females Who Are Overweight After Menopause-a Randomised Controlled Trial

Overview

Journal Int J Obes (Lond)

Specialty Endocrinology

Date 2022 Jul 25

PMID 35879528

Authors

Karl A Franklin

Eva Lindberg

Johan Svensson

Christel Larsson

Bernt Lindahl

Caroline Mellberg

Carin Sahlin

Tommy Olsson

Mats Ryberg

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background/objectives: Obesity is the main risk factor for obstructive sleep apnoea, commonly occurring in females who are overweight after menopause. We aimed to study the effect of a palaeolithic diet on sleep apnoea in females with overweight after menopause from the population.

Methods: Seventy healthy, non-smoking females with a mean age of 60 years and a mean BMI of 33 kg/m were randomised to a palaeolithic diet or to a control low-fat diet according to Nordic Nutritional Recommendations, for 2 years. The apnoea-hypopnoea index was measured and daytime sleepiness was estimated during the intervention.

Results: The mean apnoea-hypopnoea index at baseline was 11.6 (95% CI 8.6-14.5). The mean weight loss was 7.2 kg (95% CI 5.3-9.2 kg) in the palaeolithic diet group and 3.9 kg in the control group (95% CI 1.9-5.9 kg); p < 0.021 for the group difference. The reduction in weight corresponded to a reduction in the apnoea-hypopnoea index in the palaeolithic diet group (r = 0.38, p = 0.034) but not in the control group (r = 0.08, p = 0.69). The apnoea-hypopnoea index was reduced in the palaeolithic diet group when the weight was reduced by more than 8 kg. Daytime sleepiness according to the Epworth Sleepiness Scale score and the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale score was unaffected by dietary group allocation.

Conclusions: A substantial decrease in body weight of 8 kg was needed to achieve a reduction in sleep apnoea in this small trial of women who are overweight after menopause. The palaeolithic diet was more effective for weight reduction than a control low-fat diet and the reduction in sleep apnoea was related to the degree of weight decrement within this diet group.

Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00692536.

Citing Articles

Influence of nutrition and food on sleep-is there evidence?.

Netzer N, Strohl K, Pramsohler S Sleep Breath. 2023; 28(1):61-68.

PMID: 37740061 PMC: 10954981. DOI: 10.1007/s11325-023-02921-1.

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