Researchers investigated whether sleep quality in children with sleep apnea and celiac disease benefitted from a gluten-free diet, according to Medical News Bulletin.

Gluten is a common protein found in grains such as wheat. Celiac disease is a condition in which an individual’s sensitivity to gluten triggers a systemic immune response. Celiac disease is prevalent in approximately 1% of the population. The consumption of gluten in these individuals can cause symptoms such as damage to the small intestines and swelling of lymph nodes.  The most common treatment for celiac disease is the complete elimination of gluten from the diet.

Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by an obstruction in the airflow within the upper airway during sleep. The incident of OSA in children is 3%, peaking in children from ages 2-8 years old. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, and sleeping. A reason for this can be attributed to swelling of lymph nodes.