Omega-3 Index and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Cross-Sectional Study
Tittus J
Published in Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine
Methodology
Cross-sectional study recruiting 357 sleep laboratory participants with 315 evaluated; obstructive sleep apnoea categorised as none/mild, moderate or severe by apnoea-hypopnea index; anthropometrics and lifestyle recorded; erythrocyte fatty acid composition measured by the HS-Omega-3 Index methodology.
Key Findings
Among 315 evaluable sleep laboratory participants categorised as no/mild, moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnoea, the mean Omega-3 Index (red blood cell EPA plus DHA) was 5.7% in all three groups and showed no association with apnoea severity. Severe apnoea was more common in men (79.7%, p = 0.042) and those with severe disease had significantly higher body mass index (32.11 kg/m2, p = 0.009). Smoking, alcohol, fish intake and omega-3 supplementation did not differ across groups. This contradicts an earlier report linking an Omega-3 Index below 5.0% with sleep apnoea.
Conclusions
In contrast to our hypothesis, an Omega-3 Index of 5.7% was not associated with OSA severity.
Limitations
A cross-sectional study in a single sleep laboratory cannot establish cause and effect, and with a mean index of 5.7% very few participants fell into the low range where an association was previously reported.
Supplements Studied
In contrast to our hypothesis, an Omega-3 Index of 5.7% was not associated with OSA severity.
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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