Abstract
Background: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a major component of neural tissues, and supplementation with fish oils improves autonomic tone and reduces risk for CVD. A link between low DHA status and less mature sleep patterns was observed in newborns. Methods: We investigated the relations between red blood cell (RBC) levels of DHA and OSA severity in 350 sequential patients undergoing sleep studies. Severity categories were defined as none/mild, moderate, and severe, based on apnea hypopnea index (AHI) scores of 0 to 14, 15 to 34, and <34, respectively. Results: After controlling for age, sex, race, smoking, BMI, alcohol intake, fish intake, and omega-3 supplementation, RBC DHA was inversely related with OSA severity. For each 1-SDincrease in DHA levels, a patient was about 50% less likely to be classified with severe OSA. The odds ratios (95% CI) were 0.47 (0.28 to 0.80) and 0.55 (0.31 to 0.99) for being in the severe group versus the none/mild or moderate groups, respectively. Conclusion: These findings suggest that disordered membrane fatty acid patterns may play a causal role in OSA and that the assessment of RBC DHA levels might help in the diagnosis of OSA. The effects of DHA supplementation on OSA should be explored.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 391-396 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 15 2011 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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Keywords
- Biomarkers
- Docosahexaenoic acid
- Epidemiology
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Sleep disordered breathing
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
- Neurology
Cite this
Membrane level of omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid is associated with severity of obstructive sleep apnea. / Ladesich, James B.; Pottala, James V.; Romaker, Ann; Harris, William.
In: Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, Vol. 7, No. 4, 15.08.2011, p. 391-396.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Membrane level of omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid is associated with severity of obstructive sleep apnea
AU - Ladesich, James B.
AU - Pottala, James V.
AU - Romaker, Ann
AU - Harris, William
PY - 2011/8/15
Y1 - 2011/8/15
N2 - Background: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a major component of neural tissues, and supplementation with fish oils improves autonomic tone and reduces risk for CVD. A link between low DHA status and less mature sleep patterns was observed in newborns. Methods: We investigated the relations between red blood cell (RBC) levels of DHA and OSA severity in 350 sequential patients undergoing sleep studies. Severity categories were defined as none/mild, moderate, and severe, based on apnea hypopnea index (AHI) scores of 0 to 14, 15 to 34, and <34, respectively. Results: After controlling for age, sex, race, smoking, BMI, alcohol intake, fish intake, and omega-3 supplementation, RBC DHA was inversely related with OSA severity. For each 1-SDincrease in DHA levels, a patient was about 50% less likely to be classified with severe OSA. The odds ratios (95% CI) were 0.47 (0.28 to 0.80) and 0.55 (0.31 to 0.99) for being in the severe group versus the none/mild or moderate groups, respectively. Conclusion: These findings suggest that disordered membrane fatty acid patterns may play a causal role in OSA and that the assessment of RBC DHA levels might help in the diagnosis of OSA. The effects of DHA supplementation on OSA should be explored.
AB - Background: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a major component of neural tissues, and supplementation with fish oils improves autonomic tone and reduces risk for CVD. A link between low DHA status and less mature sleep patterns was observed in newborns. Methods: We investigated the relations between red blood cell (RBC) levels of DHA and OSA severity in 350 sequential patients undergoing sleep studies. Severity categories were defined as none/mild, moderate, and severe, based on apnea hypopnea index (AHI) scores of 0 to 14, 15 to 34, and <34, respectively. Results: After controlling for age, sex, race, smoking, BMI, alcohol intake, fish intake, and omega-3 supplementation, RBC DHA was inversely related with OSA severity. For each 1-SDincrease in DHA levels, a patient was about 50% less likely to be classified with severe OSA. The odds ratios (95% CI) were 0.47 (0.28 to 0.80) and 0.55 (0.31 to 0.99) for being in the severe group versus the none/mild or moderate groups, respectively. Conclusion: These findings suggest that disordered membrane fatty acid patterns may play a causal role in OSA and that the assessment of RBC DHA levels might help in the diagnosis of OSA. The effects of DHA supplementation on OSA should be explored.
KW - Biomarkers
KW - Docosahexaenoic acid
KW - Epidemiology
KW - Omega-3 fatty acids
KW - Sleep disordered breathing
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=80051903578&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.5664/JCSM.1198
DO - 10.5664/JCSM.1198
M3 - Article
VL - 7
SP - 391
EP - 396
JO - Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine
JF - Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine
SN - 1550-9389
IS - 4
ER -