Obstructive sleep apnea and vitamin D: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Loh HH
Published in Hormones (Athens)
Methodology
Updated systematic review and meta-analysis pooling 18 observational studies of 5,592 adults, comparing serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and prevalence of insufficiency and deficiency in obstructive sleep apnea versus controls, with subgroup analysis by severity, age, BMI and latitude and assessment of CPAP effects.
Key Findings
Data from 18 observational studies covering 5,592 people were pooled. People with obstructive sleep apnea had significantly lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (pooled effect -0.74, 95% CI -1.19 to -0.28, p < 0.01) and a higher rate of vitamin D deficiency (pooled log odds ratio 0.98, 95% CI 0.30 to 1.67, p < 0.01) than those without. Subgroup analysis found the difference significant only in moderate and severe apnea, and neither age, BMI nor geographical latitude explained the gap. CPAP treatment did not significantly change serum vitamin D levels.
Conclusions
Patients with OSA have lower serum 25-OHD levels with a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, regardless of age or BMI, pointing to an independent association between vitamin D and OSA.
Limitations
All 18 included studies were observational, so this cannot show whether low vitamin D contributes to sleep apnea or results from it, and no trial of supplementation was included; the finding that CPAP does not raise vitamin D argues against a simple causal chain.
Supplements Studied
Patients with OSA have lower serum 25-OHD levels with a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, regardless of age or BMI.
Outcomes Measured
Patients with OSA had significantly lower serum 25-OHD levels (pooled d + - 0.74 [95% CI: - 1.19 to - 0.28], p < 0.01)
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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