Inflammation and oxidative stress in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Similar to obesity, with which it is closely associated, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is rapidly becoming a worldwide epidemic. Current knowledge of its pathogenesis has been significantly enriched by numerous experimental studies that have demonstrated an important role of oxidative stress and inflammation. Furthermore, new and exciting data strongly connect these two components in the perpetuation of the condition via the overexpression of nuclear factor kappaB. Experimental data support the hypothesis that nutrition might represent a promising future approach with antioxidants currently being good candidates for the modulation of cardiovascular sequelae, although weight reduction and controlled positive airway pressure remain the only established treatments for OSAS. We discuss herein the recent literature that illustrates these new paradigms and speculate on possible implications and future scenarios.