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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2010; 118(9): 591-595
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1253344
Article

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Circulating Endocannabinoids and N-acyl-ethanolamides in Patients with Sleep Apnea – Specific Role of Oleoylethanolamide

R. Jumpertz1 [*] , T. Wiesner1 [*] , M. Blüher1 , S. Engeli2 , S. Bátkai2 , 3 , H. Wirtz1 , A. Bosse-Henck1 , M. Stumvoll1
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Leipzig, Germany
  • 2Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
  • 3National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
Further Information

Publication History

received 28.09.2009 first decision 25.01.2010

accepted 22.03.2010

Publication Date:
28 April 2010 (online)

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Abstract

Objective: The endocannabinoid system promotes diverse effects on fat and glucose metabolism as well as on energy balance and sleep regulation. The role of N-acylethanolamides like oleoylethanolamide (OEA) and other endocannabinoids such as anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonyl-glycerol (2-AG) has not yet been investigated in patients with sleep apnea.

Design and Methods: We measured circulating OEA, AEA and 2-AG in patients with sleep apnea (n=20) and healthy control subjects (n=57). Respiratory distress index (RDI) as measured by polysomnography was used as a quantitative index of sleep apnea.

Results: In patients with sleep apnea OEA serum concentrations were significantly higher than in control subjects (8.4 pmol/ml (95% CI 6.9;9.9) vs. 4.0 (3.5;4.5); p<0.0001, adjusted for body mass index (BMI), fasting insulin, HDL and LDL cholesterol). In contrast, AEA (2.9 (95% CI 1.9;3.9) vs. 1.8 (1.4;2.1), p=0.09) and 2-AG (20.0 (−14.5;54.5) vs. 32.8 (21.4;44.2), p=0.56) were not significantly different between patients with sleep apnea and control subjects after adjustment. In the sleep apnea group, OEA serum concentrations were associated with RDI (r2=0.28, p=0.02) and BMI (r2=0.32, p=0.01). However, OEA was not associated with BMI in the control group (p=0.10).

Conclusions: These results indicate that among the three analyzed fatty acid derivatives, OEA plays a specific role in patients with sleep apnea. Together with animal data, the 2-fold elevation of OEA serum concentrations could be interpreted as a neuroprotective mechanism against chronic oxidative stressors and a mechanism to promote wakefulness in patients with nocturnal sleep deprivation and daytime hypersomnolence.

Key words

endocannabinoids - oleoylethanolamide - anandamide - 2-arachidonyl-glycerol - sleep apnea

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1 These authors contributed equally

Correspondence

Prof. Dr. med. M. Stumvoll

Department of Internal Medicine

University of Leipzig

Liebigstr. 18

04103 Leipzig

Germany

Phone: +49/0341/971 3380

Fax: +49/0341/971 3389

Email: michael.stumvoll@medizin.uni-leipzig.de

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