Plasma levels of adiponectin, a novel adipocyte-derived hormone, in sleep apnea

OBJECTIVE: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with obesity, sympathetic activation, systemic inflammation, and cardiovascular morbidity. Obesity, beta-adrenergic agonists, and inflammation are linked to decreased expression and/or secretion of an adipose tissue-derived antiatherogenic hormone, adiponectin. The purpose of the study was to investigate whether OSA affected plasma levels of adiponectin, which might help explain OSA-associated cardiovascular morbidity. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: We randomly selected 68 otherwise healthy male subjects, either with moderate/severe OSA [apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)>or=20; n=35] or without OSA (AHI