One-month of a low-energy diet, with no additional effect of high-protein, reduces Obstructive Sleep Apnea severity and improve metabolic parameters in obese males

Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is closely associated with obesity. Weight loss ameliorates OSA and its associated metabolic disorders. A high protein intake may improve weight loss through increased energy expenditure, and fat-free mass maintenance during weight loss. To evaluate the effects of a low-energy, high-protein diet on OSA severity and metabolic parameters in obese men. Forty-five OSA obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) males were included in this randomized study and submitted to nocturnal polysomnography, body composition measured by plethysmography, biochemical analyses of blood glucose, insulin and lipids, and food intake evaluations before and after one month of a low-energy diet. Diets were designed to create a 30% deficit in total energy expenditure with 1.6 g of protein/kg/day (High Protein group - HP) or 0.8 g of protein/kg/day (Low Protein group - LP). Only a time effect of the intervention was observed in body mass (−3.7 ± 2.0% for the LP group and −4.0 ± 1.5% for the HP group; p