Serum adipocyte-fatty acid binding protein level is elevated in severe OSA and correlates with insulin resistance

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. There is evidence that adipocyte-fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) may be involved in the development of cardiometabolic dysfunction. The present authors hypothesise that A-FABP is upregulated in OSA.A total of 124 males without hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia or cardiovascular disease were recruited and underwent polysomnography. Serum A-FABP levels showed significant positive correlations with duration of oxygen desaturation and minimal oxygen saturation, fasting insulin and insulin resistance index by homeostasis model assessment. When subjects were divided into tertiles according to apnoea/hypopnoea index (AHI), serum A-FABP levels were significantly higher in the group with AHI o34.4 events?h -1 than the groups with AHI 13.2-34.4 events?h -1 or with AHI ,13.2 events?h -1 . Serum A-FABP levels were significantly higher in the AHI o34.4 group than obesity-matched subjects with AHI ,34.4 events?h -1 .Serum adipocyte-fatty acid binding protein levels correlated with obstructive sleep apnoea and insulin resistance, independently of obesity, and were significantly higher in severe obstructive sleep apnoea. Adipocyte-fatty acid binding protein may play a role in obstructive sleep apnoea and metabolic dysfunction.

Free fatty acids and the metabolic syndrome in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea

“…In OSAS patients without MS, FFA levels were also higher in the severe group than in mild-to-moderate group. Our results are concordant with a study by LAM et al [29]. Those authors found that adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein levels correlated with obstructive sleep apnoea independently of obesity [29].…”

“…Our results are concordant with a study by LAM et al [29]. Those authors found that adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein levels correlated with obstructive sleep apnoea independently of obesity [29]. Multiple linear regression controlling for BMI, sex, age and the presence of MS confirmed an independent association between AHI and FFA levels.…”

A randomised controlled trial of nasal continuous positive airway pressure on insulin sensitivity in obstructive sleep apnoea

“…Although the physical mass is static, the composites of adiposity might have changed at the molecular levels after treatment. A number of inflammatory and neurohumoral mediators are produced from the adipose tissues, especially from the visceral adipose tissues which have been demonstrated to be involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance [33,36]. With the application of nCPAP treatment in the obese apnoeic group, the changes of these mediators and, hence, insulin sensitivity might have been more pronounced than the nonobese apnoeic group.…”

Intervention for cardiovascular risk factors decreases adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein levels in males — a pilot study

“…A positive correlation has been found between the level of A-FABP, level of fasting insulin and insulin resistance index [5]. Patients with rare haploinsufficiency of the gene for A-FABP have significantly reduced risk for diabetes and CVD [6].…”