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Metabolic aspects of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome

^* Dept of Medicine, Pneumology, Physiology and Nutrition (DIMPEFINU), University of Palermo, and ^# Institute of Biomedicine and Molecular Immunology (IBIM), National Research Council (CNR), Palermo, Italy. ^¶ German Diabetes Center, Düsseldorf, Germany.

CORRESPONDENCE: M. R. Bonsignore, Dept of Medicine, Pneumology, Physiology and Nutrition (DIMPEFINU) University of Palermo, c/o V Cervello Hospital, Via Trabucco 180, 90146 Palermo, Italy. E-mail: Marisa{at}ibim.cnr.it

Received: January 14, 2009
Accepted January 26, 2009

ABSTRACT

Insulin resistance is often associated with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) and could contribute to cardiovascular risk in OSAS. Sleep loss and intermittent hypoxia could contribute to the pathogenesis of the metabolic alterations associated with obesity, a common feature of OSAS. The biology of the adipocyte is being increasingly studied, and it has been found that hypoxia negatively affects adipocyte function.

In November 2007, the European Respiratory Society and two EU COST Actions (Cardiovascular risk in OSAS (B26) and Adipose tissue and the metabolic syndrome (BM0602)), held a Research Seminar in Düsseldorf, Germany, to discuss the following: 1) the effects of hypoxia on glucose metabolism and adipocyte function; 2) the role of inflammatory activation in OSAS and obesity; 3) the alarming rates of obesity and OSAS in children; 4) the harmful effects of the metabolic syndrome in OSAS; 5) the effects of OSAS treatment on metabolic variables; and 6) the relationship between daytime sleepiness and hormonal and inflammatory responses. Insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, the role of the endocannabinoid system and novel pharmacological approaches to treat insulin resistance were also discussed.

As obesity and hypoxia could be the basic links between OSAS and adipocyte dysfunction, further research is needed to translate these new data into clinical practice.

KEYWORDS: Adipokines, adipose tissue, inflammation, insulin resistance, hypoxia, treatment