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Effects of obstructive sleep apnea on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor protein, cortisol, and lipid levels

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Abstract

Objectives

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep-disordered breathing leading to vascular endothelial cells dysfunction, cognitive impairment, and abnormal lipid metabolism. serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein, cortisol, and lipid levels in OSA were investigated.

Materials and methods

All middle-aged subjects including healthy individuals without signs and symptoms of apnea-hypopnea and ear nose throat (ENT) outpatients were randomly recruited and screened by overnight polysomnogram (PSG). Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was used as a criteria to determine subjects to enroll in this program. According to AHI, they were separated into control and OSA groups. A group of 39 OSA patients (AHI ≥ 10 events/h) and 24 control subjects (AHI < 5 events/h) were selected. Serum BDNF protein was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) from venous blood collection at 8:00 a.m. following PSG. Serum cortisol was assayed by enzyme-chemiluminescense immuno assay (ECLIA). Serum lipid profile levels were determined by enzymatic colorimetric and homogeneous method.

Results

Characteristics of OSA patients and control groups including gender, age, AHI, body weight, height, and BMI showed significant differences. Serum BDNF protein, cortisol, triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels in OSA and control groups were not significantly different. High density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) in OSA was significantly lower than that of control (p = 0.008) while low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c) was significantly higher than that of control (p = 0.04).

Conclusions

OSA had no significant effect on serum BDNF, cortisol, triglyceride, or total cholesterol levels while LDL-c and HDL-c levels in OSA patients compared to control were significantly different at p = 0.04, and p = 0.008, respectively.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by HRH Princess Mahachakri Sirindhorn Medical Center, Ongkarak campus, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Nakornnayok. Thailand. We would like to thank Asst. Prof. Wichit Leelasithorn, a specialized radiologist doctor, for providing control subjects’ polysomnogram data, Dr. Villarroel A. and Asst. Prof. Dr. Orapin Wongsawatkul for editing the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

This study has no conflict of interest between collaborators. We have no financial relationship with the organization that sponsored this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Sukhumwit 23, Klongtoey Nuea, Wattana, Bangkok, 10110, Thailand

    Busarakumtragul Panaree

  2. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Sukhumwit 23, Klongtoey Nuea, Wattana, Bangkok, 10110, Thailand

    Mekseepralard Chantana

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Sukhumwit 23, Klongtoey Nuea, Wattana, Bangkok, 10110, Thailand

    Sukhumsirichart Wasana

  4. Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Ongkarak Campus, Ongkarak, Nakornnayok, 26120, Thailand

    Neruntarat Chairat

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  1. Busarakumtragul Panaree
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Panaree, B., Chantana, M., Wasana, S. et al. Effects of obstructive sleep apnea on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor protein, cortisol, and lipid levels. Sleep Breath 15, 649–656 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-010-0415-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-010-0415-7

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