Baseline leptin and longitudinal LDL-C changes in relation to sleep-disordered breathing: The Toon Health Study

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Cardiovascular Health
• Sleep Medicine

Background:

• Inconsistent evidence exists on leptin's effect on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).
• Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is common and linked to both leptin and dyslipidemia, potentially explaining inconsistent findings.
• Clarifying leptin's role in LDL-C regulation is crucial for understanding dyslipidemia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the longitudinal association between leptin and LDL-C in humans.
• To determine if SDB modifies the relationship between leptin and LDL-C.
• To provide insights into the complex interplay of metabolic and sleep factors in cardiovascular health.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from 1113 participants in the Toon Health Study with 5-year follow-up.
• Assessment of SDB using overnight pulse oximetry.
• Evaluation of longitudinal LDL-C changes using linear mixed-effects models and stratified analyses based on sex-specific leptin quartiles.

Main Results:

• Higher baseline leptin levels were associated with a significant decline in LDL-C over 5 years.
• This association was primarily observed in participants without SDB.
• A significant three-way interaction between leptin, time, and SDB status confirmed SDB's modifying role.

Conclusions:

• Leptin is associated with a decline in LDL-C over time, particularly in individuals without SDB.
• SDB significantly modifies the longitudinal relationship between leptin and LDL-C.
• These findings highlight the importance of considering SDB in metabolic and cardiovascular risk assessments.