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Circulating branched-chain amino acids in children with obstructive sleep apnea

Antonia Barceló1,2,3, Josep Miquel Bauça1,2, José Antonio Peña-Zarza4

  • 1Servei Anàlisis Clíniques, Hospital Universitari Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Pediatric Pulmonology
|July 4, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children is linked to higher branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) levels, suggesting BCAAs may indicate insulin resistance. This highlights a new connection between sleep apnea and metabolic health.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Metabolic Research

Background:

  • Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) effects on children's metabolic systems are unclear.
  • Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) may modulate insulin action and link glucose and amino acid pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate plasma BCAA levels as potential biomarkers for insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction in children with OSA.
  • To explore the relationship between OSA, sleep fragmentation, and BCAA metabolism in pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

  • Polysomnography used for OSA diagnosis in 90 snoring children.
  • Collected anthropometric, clinical, and blood samples for glucose, insulin, HbA1c, and amino acid measurements.

Main Results:

  • Children with OSA exhibited significantly higher BCAA levels (leucine, isoleucine, total BCAAs) compared to controls.
  • Positive correlations found between insulin levels and leucine/isoleucine.
  • OSA presence associated with BCAA concentrations; arousal index linked to leucine, valine, and total BCAAs.

Conclusions:

  • OSA and sleep fragmentation may alter BCAA metabolism in children, independent of obesity.
  • Findings suggest a novel mechanism linking OSA to glucose homeostasis in children.
Abstract

Keywords:
amino acidsbranched-chainglucose toleranceobstructive sleep apneapediatric sleep disorder

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