We investigated how the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) impacts the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in 350 patients undergoing sleep studies. Our study aimed to determine if there is a relationship between the levels of DHA in red blood cells (RBC) and the severity of sleep apnea, categorized as none/mild, moderate, or severe based on apnea hypopnea index (AHI) scores.
Our findings revealed that lower levels of DHA are linked to more severe cases of OSA. For each standard deviation increase in DHA, patients were about 50% less likely to be classified in the severe apnea category. Specifically, we noted decreased odds of falling into the severe OSA group when DHA levels were higher, suggesting that DHA may play an important role in the severity of this condition.
These insights imply that maintaining healthy DHA levels could potentially influence OSA severity and could aid in developing treatment strategies. We believe that future research should explore the potential benefits of DHA supplementation for those suffering from sleep apnea.