What if the food you eat could change the way you breathe at night? In this episode, recorded live at The Metabolic Health Summit, Dr. Jonathan Jun reveals how metabolism and sleep-disordered breathing are deeply connected, and why shifting from carbs to fat might improve more than just your waistline.
Dr. Jonathan Jun, a leading researcher on obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), walks us through the groundbreaking KETOHS trial, where a ketogenic diet was tested for its effects on carbon dioxide retention, sleep apnea severity, and metabolic health. The findings suggest ketosis may do more than promote weight loss - it could directly enhance respiratory efficiency and sleep quality in patients with OHS and OSA.
From a long-forgotten 1976 fasting study to modern clinical data, this lecture reframes the connection between diet, breathing, and metabolism, revealing how nutritional ketosis might transform respiratory and metabolic medicine.
Questions Answered in This Episode:
- Why does fuel choice (carbs vs. fat) matter for breathing in people with sleep-disordered breathing?
- What exactly happens in obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS), and why is it more dangerous than OSA alone?
- Why did a 1976 starvation ketosis study inspire modern trials on ketogenic diets for OSA/OHS?
- How was the KETOHS trial designed to isolate the effects of ketosis itself (not just weight loss)?
- Can a ketogenic diet improve sleep apnea severity even without CPAP therapy?
- Is the improvement in CO₂ clearance explained only by weight loss, or something else?
- What metabolic changes accompany ketogenic therapy in this context?
This episode will change the way you see the link between diet and breathing, and may open new doors for treating some of the toughest sleep and metabolic disorders.
Special thanks to the sponsors of this episode:
✅Genova Connect – Get 15% off any test kit with code METABOLICLINK here.
✅ ZocDoc - Find and instantly book a top-rated doctor here.
✅ Fatty15 – Get 15% off a 90-day Starter Kit with code METABOLICLINK here.
In every episode of The Metabolic Link, we'll uncover the very latest research on metabolic health and therapy. If you like this episode, please share it, subscribe, follow, and leave us a comment or review on whichever platform you use to tune in!
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Please keep in mind: The Metabolic Link does not provide medical or health advice, but rather general information that does not serve as a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional. Never delay in seeking medical advice from an appropriately licensed medical provider for any health condition that you may have.
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