Adequate vitamin D levels significantly reduce risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in overweight or obese people

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep-related disorder characterized by repetitive, partial or complete upper airway obstruction, accompanied by snoring and sudden pauses in breathing during sleep. OSA can cause daytime sleepiness, fatigue, poor concentration and memory loss, seriously affecting daily life and life expectancy. Identifying more modifiable risk factors is crucial for the early detection and primary prevention of OSA.

Vitamin D is mainly derived from ultraviolet radiation and dietary intake. It is a common fat-soluble vitamin that, in addition to playing an important role in bone metabolism, also has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Previous studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency and OSA have similar risk factors, such as obesity. However, the prospective relationship between vitamin D and OSA is unclear, and no studies have evaluated whether obesity can affect the relationship between the two.

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Based on the above clinical problems, the National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases of Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, has carried out relevant work, and the research results were recently published in the International Journal of Obesity . The study found that adequate vitamin D levels can significantly reduce the risk of OSA in overweight or obese people. Professor Qin Xianhui of the National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases of Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University is the corresponding author of the article, and Dr. Zhang Yuanyuan is the first author.

This study included more than 400,000 participants from the UK Biobank study who did not have OSA at baseline, with an average age of 56.5 years and an average serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level of 46.9 mmol/L.

After about 12 years of follow-up, 6051 participants developed OSA. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were significantly negatively correlated with the risk of OSA. For every 20 mmol/L (1 standard deviation) increase in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, the risk of OSA was significantly reduced by 8% (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are significantly negatively correlated with OSA

The negative correlation between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and OSA risk is more obvious in obese or overweight people. In people with a body mass index of 25-30 kg/m2 and a waist circumference greater than or equal to 90 cm, the risk of OSA is significantly reduced by 8% for every 20 mmol/L increase in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level; in people with a body mass index greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2 and a waist circumference greater than or equal to 90 cm, the risk of OSA is significantly reduced by 15% for every 20 mmol/L increase in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level.

Conclusions: In overweight or obese individuals, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were significantly inversely associated with the risk of OSA. These results highlight the importance of maintaining adequate vitamin D levels in overweight or obese individuals for preventing OSA.

Knowledge points:

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References:

Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Ye Z, Zhou C, Yang S, Liu M, He P, Gan X, Qin X. Relationship of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, obesity with new-onset obstructive sleep apnea. Int J Obes (Lond). 2023 Oct 27.

Editor: Zhang Yuanyuan and Xiang Hao

Reviewer: Qin Xianhui

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