Adipocytokines in sleep apnea syndrome

OBJECTIVE: Biomarkers of adipose tissue may affect glucose and lipid metabolism and present pro-inflammatory properties, thus could be involved in the pathobiochemistry of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The coexistence of sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) and metabolic risk factors of CVD is worth explaining. The aim of the study was to compare the serum adipocytokines in subjects with and without OSA, who had all elevated body mass index (BMI). METHODS: Overweight (BMI: 25.0-29.9 kg/m(2)) and obese (BMI: 30.0-39.9 kg/m(2)) OSA-suspected Caucasian males, aged 30-63, with no acute disease or chronic disorder underwent polysomnographic evaluation to select OSA-positive (AHI ≥ 5) and OSA-negative (AHI < 5) subjects. Four subgroups were created of 18 persons each: Over(weight)-OSA-Neg, Over-OSA-Pos, Obese-OSA-Neg, Obese-OSA-Pos. In all subjects, plasma carbohydrate and lipid metabolism parameters, and serum uric acid, resistin and leptin concentrations were determined. RESULTS: A decreased resistin level was observed in Over-OSA-Pos vs. Over-OSA-Neg subjects (P = 0.037) as well as in Obese-OSA-Pos vs. Obese-OSA-Neg (P = 0.045). No differences in leptin concentrations were observed. A positive correlation between leptin and BMI was in both overweight subgroups and a negative one between resistin and fasting glucose was in both obese subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: OSA may decrease the serum resistin level in subjects with excess body mass and also may contribute to glucose metabolism, but has no influence on the leptin level.