Antioxidant therapies for obstructive sleep apnea: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Boppana TK
Published in Sleep and Breathing
Methodology
Systematic review and meta-analysis of PubMed and Embase for human studies of antioxidant therapy in obstructive sleep apnea, pooling six studies with a random-effects model; outcomes included flow-mediated dilatation, malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, Epworth sleepiness scale, oxygen desaturation index and minimum oxygen saturation.
Key Findings
Six studies (five randomised trials and one case-control) covering 160 patients with obstructive sleep apnea were pooled, testing N-acetyl cysteine, vitamin C, carbocysteine, superoxide dismutase, vitamin E, allopurinol and combinations. Antioxidant therapy significantly improved flow-mediated dilatation, a measure of blood vessel function, by a pooled 2.16% (95% CI 1.65 to 2.67, I-squared 0%, p < 0.001). Malondialdehyde fell and reduced glutathione rose, indicating less oxidative stress. Epworth sleepiness scores, oxygen desaturation index and minimum overnight oxygen saturation also improved, with no significant adverse effects reported.
Conclusions
Antioxidant therapy in patients with OSA is associated with improved endothelial function, reduced oxidative stress, and improved sleep parameters.
Limitations
Only 160 patients across six small, short studies of six different agents, one of them not randomised; flow-mediated dilatation is a surrogate marker rather than a clinical outcome, and no long-term or cardiovascular endpoints were assessed.
Supplements Studied
Antioxidant therapy in patients with OSA is associated with improved endothelial function, reduced oxidative stress, and improved sleep parameters.
Antioxidant therapy in patients with OSA is associated with improved endothelial function, reduced oxidative stress, and improved sleep parameters.
Antioxidant therapy in patients with OSA is associated with improved endothelial function, reduced oxidative stress, and improved sleep parameters.
Outcomes Measured
There was a significant improvement in flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) following antioxidants, with the pooled effect being 2.16 % (95% CI 1.65-2.67)
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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