New genetic research suggests that obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and oxidative stress share a bidirectional relationship, influencing disease progression and antioxidant responses.

By Valery Butto


RT’s Three Key Takeaways:

  1. Lactate Elevation: Genetic analysis indicated that obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is associated with increased lactate levels, potentially due to hypoxia-driven disruptions in glucose metabolism.
  2. Bidirectional Relationship: Lower levels of specific biomarkers like superoxide dismutase may contribute to the development of the condition, suggesting oxidative stress is both a cause and a consequence of sleep apnea.
  3. Antioxidant Response: The study found higher vitamin E levels in patients with the disorder, which researchers suggested may represent a compensatory mechanism by the body to combat oxidative damage.


Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) may be linked to oxidative stress (OS), according to a Mendelian randomization study published in Current Medicinal Chemistry.

Researchers used FinnGen-derived genetic data for OSAS and summary statistics for 16 oxidative stress biomarker indicators (OSBIs) to assess the relationship. The team performed univariable, bidirectional, and multivariable analyses to determine if the connection is causal rather than purely observational.

The findings suggested that OSAS may be associated with higher lactate levels. In the univariable analysis, the odds ratio (OR) was 1.06, suggesting a modest increase in the odds of elevated lactate. The multivariable analysis also supported a direct effect, with an OR of 1.16. However, the authors noted significant heterogeneity, meaning these specific findings should be interpreted with caution.

The study supports the idea that OS may be both a consequence of OSAS and a contributor to it. One possible explanation provided by the researchers is that repeated hypoxia may disrupt glucose metabolism, which could help explain the rise in lactate.

A reverse analysis suggested that lower levels of superoxide dismutase and matrix metalloproteinase 9 were associated with OSAS. Superoxide dismutase had an OR of 0.96, while matrix metalloproteinase 9 had an OR of 0.98. These findings suggest that some biomarkers may not only change in response to the disease, but could also contribute to the development of the syndrome itself.

The multivariable analysis also suggested that OSAS may be associated with higher vitamin E levels, with an OR of 1.15. The authors proposed that this increase may reflect a compensatory antioxidant response as the body attempts to manage the stress caused by the condition.

Although the findings provide genetic evidence for the link, the authors said larger and more diverse studies are still needed to validate the results. They also called for future research in the healthcare field to utilize a broader range of oxidative stress biomarkers. Overall, the study suggests that oxidative stress and sleep apnea may be more closely connected than previously understood.


Reference:

Liu Y et al. Biomarker-Based Analysis of the Association Between Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Oxidative Stress: A Univariable, Bidirectional, and Multivariable Mendelian Randomization Study. Curr Med Chem. 2026;DOI:10.2174/0109298673424572251205201414.

This article was originally published by EMJ and was made available under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 License.