Study record

Reduced serum levels of mitochondria-derived peptide MOTS-c in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Luo Z, Ji R, Ye R et al. · Sleep Biol Rhythms · 2025

Human obs.Endogenous MOTS-c measuredEvidence tier B
PubMed 40538389doi:10.1007/s41105-025-00578-9Full text (PMC)Compare with another study

What this study reported

Measured serum MOTS-c in adults assessed by polysomnography and reported lower levels with greater obstructive sleep apnea severity. Reported that serum MOTS-c correlated with body mass index, apnea-hypopnea index and oxygen desaturation index independent of age, and that in analysis of covariance with body mass index as a covariate, OSA severity was an independent factor associated with serum MOTS-c levels in these participants.

Limitations

Single-centre cross-sectional design with a modest sample and unequal group sizes (only 8 participants with mild OSA); no longitudinal follow-up, so temporal direction cannot be established.

Study record

Annotated fields for this study
Study modelHuman observational
Substance studiedEndogenous MOTS-c measuredNaturally occurring MOTS-c was measured; nothing was given.
Specieshuman
System studiedAdults undergoing polysomnography for suspected obstructive sleep apnea, and control participants
Populationadults with obstructive sleep apnea (mild, moderate and severe) and controls
DesignCase-control study with cross-sectional biomarker measurement
Sample size as reported77 participants (53 with OSA, 24 controls; 26 women, 51 men)
Control group24 participants without obstructive sleep apnea
Route (data field only)Not reported
Endpoints measuredserum MOTS-c; apnea-hypopnea index; oxygen desaturation index; body mass index; complete blood count; sleep questionnaires
Pathways measuredOxidative stress
Research areasLung · Metabolic
Evidence tierB — Other human study
Publication typesJournal Article

Appraisal

Each dimension is recorded separately and never combined into a single score. A study can be well controlled and still tell you little about people.

Relevance to MOTS-c
Direct
Model applicability
Human
Sample size
Small
Controls
Appropriate
Outcome validity
Surrogate
Support for its own conclusion
Moderate

Provenance

  • Bibliographic fields retrieved from PubMed E-utilities efetch (title, journal, date, authors, DOI) on 2026-11-11.
  • Annotated from the published abstract.
  • Editorial review: approved (2026-11-11).
  • Classification follows the site methodology; the record describes the study, not what MOTS-c does in people.