Focusing on Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and its Cardiovascular Complications

Abstract

The aim of this review is to focus on the role of omega-3 fatty acids on OSA and associated CVD risk, as well as provide novel hypotheses on their functional impact. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality and is highly prevalent in obesity. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends dietary induced weight-loss as a behavioral treatment option for OSA. Since a complex, rather than linear, relationship exists between weight loss and OSA improvement, dietary intervention studies must focus not only on the direct effects of weight loss, but whether dietary-quality may also affect OSA severity, through potential improvements in neuromuscular function of the upper airway.