Sleep and Breathing

, Volume 19, Issue 2, pp 547–552 | Cite as

Serum levels of trace minerals and heavy metals in severe obstructive sleep apnea patients: correlates and clinical implications

  • Selvi Asker
  • Muntecep Asker
  • Asli Cilingir Yeltekin
  • Mehmet Aslan
  • Halit Demir
Original Article

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the serum levels of trace minerals and heavy metals in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients and to investigate whether there is a correlation between levels of trace minerals and demographic and biochemical variables.

Methods

This clinical, case–control study was performed on 61 OSA patients and 36 healthy controls. Demographic, radiological, biochemical variables, as well as serum levels of trace minerals (magnesium, copper, iron, zinc, manganese, cobalt) and heavy metals (lead, cadmium) were compared in OSA and control groups. In addition, correlation of serum levels of these substances to demographic, biochemical, and radiological parameters was tested.

Results

Not only serum levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, cadmium, cobalt, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, lead, and zinc were found to be higher, but also carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was increased in OSA patients. Increase in CIMT was found to be correlated with levels of cobalt, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, and zinc.

Conclusion

Our results have shown that serum levels of trace minerals and heavy metals were higher in OSA. This difference may ensource from deterioration of the balance of these substances due to oxidative stress and inflammation. Significance of these findings with respect to the etiopathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of OSA warrants further trials.

Keywords

Obstructive sleep apnea Trace minerals Heavy metals Carotid intima-media thickness 

Notes

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interest.

No financial support was received for this paper.

Presentation at a conference

None

Clinical trial registration number

N/A

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  • Selvi Asker
    • 1
  • Muntecep Asker
    • 2
  • Asli Cilingir Yeltekin
    • 3
  • Mehmet Aslan
    • 4
  • Halit Demir
    • 5
  1. 1.Department of Chest Diseases, Van Training and Research HospitalVan Yuzuncu Yil University Medical FacultyVanTurkey
  2. 2.Department of CardiologyVan Yuksek Ihtisas HospitalVanTurkey
  3. 3.Department of ChemistryVan Yuzuncu Yil University, Faculty of ScienceVanTurkey
  4. 4.Department of Internal MedicineVan Yuzuncu Yil University, Faculty of MedicineVanTurkey
  5. 5.Department of ChemistryVan Yuzuncu Yil University, Faculty of ScienceVanTurkey

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