"Plant-based & vegetarian diets associated with reduced OSA risk" - poss RLS link

[ChrisColumbus]

In the light of reported links between Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) and RLS, and also the general and specific health problems associated with high sugar high carb diets and the importance of anti-inflammatories, members may be interested in this recently published Australian research based on data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

The study concludes that:

"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 plantbased diet. 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. These diets not only influence OSA risk but also have the potential to modulate other pathophysiological mechanisms, possibly affecting various other health conditions, from obesity to cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, the distinct sex-specific patterns observed call for more personalized dietary interventions".

(A plant-based diet was found to have a bigger effect in reducing the apnoea risk for men than women)

openres.ersjournals.com/con...

(This link opens a PDF in Acrobat: download can be slow!)

[ChrisColumbus]

RLS is common among patients with OSA: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

[vikkitennis]

I do believe a plant based diet is beneficial in more than society realizes. I am a semi-vegetarian with poultry one-to-two times a week, preferring plant-based culinary delights I prepare. The 7.5 mg of methadone keeps the RLS at bay, with minimal disruption at night, it is when I overeat and have sugar at night, keeps me up.

[ChrisColumbus in reply to vikkitennis]

Yes, for me too much sugar and artificial sweeteners particularly aspartame are triggers, and to a lesser extent caffeine and alcohol. We grow a lot of veg, but I still eat meat - just less than I used to. I don't - and never have - taken any meds for RLS, just put up with mild to moderate symptoms for over 30 years before discovering that I could control it with magnesium and being more careful with what I eat when and what non-RLS medications I take. Now only have symptoms rarely.

[vikkitennis]

thank you for sharing. I am extremely active, which can cause a RLS attack at night to be fierce. Yet, I am not willing to give up on sports and the amount of time I put into the teams I play for (tennis and pickleball)