A new study has revealed that consuming cheese may be linked to a reduced risk of sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder affecting approximately 30 million individuals in the United States. Researchers found that individuals who included cheese in their diet had a 28% lower risk of developing sleep apnea. This discovery highlights cheese's potential role in influencing sleep health, although further research is needed to solidify these findings.
Sleep apnea, characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep, affects millions and poses significant health risks. The study, published in Sleep Medicine, delved into the relationship between cheese consumption and sleep apnea risk. Researchers analyzed data from 400,000 participants enrolled in the UK Biobank and FinnGen Biobank, employing a method known as Mendelian randomization to assess this connection.
Cheese may contribute to better sleep health due to its unique matrix of nutrients. It is also associated with a lower incidence of high blood pressure, a known risk factor for disrupted nighttime breathing. The study explored 44 biomarkers related to sleep apnea risk, finding that cheese could directly impact six of them: aspartate aminotransferase, urea, cystatin C, sex hormone-binding globulin, testosterone, and diastolic blood pressure.
“This study highlights the complex connections between diet, biomarkers, and sleep apnea,” – the authors
Despite these promising results, the study's scope has limitations. The population studied primarily consisted of individuals of European descent, making it challenging to generalize the findings to other ethnic groups.
“For example, the population studied was primarily of European descent, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other groups,” – Marchetti
Furthermore, not all potential biomarkers were examined in this study, suggesting that other influential factors may have been overlooked.
“The number of examined biomarkers was not exhaustive, which means that important biomarkers that could also influence these relationships may not have been accounted for.” – Marchetti
The American Heart Association recommends up to three servings of hard cheese daily, with one serving equating to 1.5 ounces. This recommendation aligns with the study's findings, suggesting that moderate cheese consumption could be part of a balanced diet beneficial for sleep health.
While cheese's impact on sleep apnea might seem unexpected, experts urge caution.
“It’s somewhat counterintuitive that cheese would have a positive impact,” – Barone
“I think the takeaway here is that there’s more to sleep apnea, diet, and the field of sleep health than meets the eye,” – Barone
“If nothing else, this opens the door to avenues that we should certainly explore further.” – Barone
In addition to diet modification, avoiding alcohol, sedatives, and smoking can also help mitigate sleep apnea's effects. Acid reflux often accompanies sleep apnea, so steering clear of foods that trigger acid production can be advantageous as well.
Daniel Barone highlights the nature of sleep apnea:
“Sleep apnea is a condition where people have repetitive stoppages of breathing throughout the night,” – Daniel Barone
Daniella Marchetti emphasizes a balanced approach to dietary choices:
“This underscores the importance of looking at foods neither as ‘good’ nor ‘bad,’ but instead taking a more measured and neutral approach to our nourishment,” – Daniella Marchetti
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