To look for the correlation if any, between TNFα gene promoter polymorphism (−308G/A) in obese Asian Indians with and without OSA and correlation of TNFα levels with severity of OSA.
We studied 207 obese (BMI > 25 kg/m2) subjects; 104 with OSA and 103 without OSA. Both groups were matched for age, body mass index (BMI) and percentage body fat ( % BF). Measurements included anthropometric and biochemical (fasting blood glucose, lipid profile and serum TNFα levels) parameters and TNFα gene promoter polymorphism (−308G/A). The frequency of ‘−308A’ allele in TNFα gene was significantly higher in obese subjects with OSA (28.8 % ; 60/208), when compared with obese subjects without OSA (12.6 % ; 26/206, p = 0.001). Serum TNFα levels were significantly higher in obese subjects with OSA [(3.6 ± 0.8)pg/ml], when compared with obese subjects without OSA [(3.3 ± 0.6)pg/ml, p = 0.009].
Frequency of TNFα (−308A) allele and serum TNFα level was significantly higher in obese Asian Indians with OSA.