SGLT2 diabetes pill to reduce belly and neck fat and help obstructive sleep apnea
Adipose Dysfunction, Imaging, Physiology, and Outcomes with SGLT2i's for Sleep Apnea: The ADIPOSA Study
Adults who are overweight with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea will take a daily ertugliflozin pill or a placebo for six months to see if it shrinks visceral and neck fat and eases airway narrowing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Case Western Reserve University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11146630 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be one of 164 adults with BMI 25–40 and moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea who are randomly assigned to ertugliflozin 15 mg daily or a placebo for six months at two medical centers. The team will use body and neck imaging, blood tests for fat-related biomarkers, overnight sleep studies, and measurements of airway mechanics and fluid shifts to track changes. Doctors will compare anatomic features (like visceral and neck fat and airway size) and non-anatomic traits (like loop gain and rostral–caudal fluid shifts) before and after treatment. The goal is to learn whether the medicine's effects on fat and fluid handling can improve sleep apnea symptoms.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 21 or older with BMI 25–40 kg/m2 and diagnosed moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea, with or without type 2 diabetes.
Not a fit: People with mild sleep apnea, BMI outside the 25–40 range, those under 21, or those who cannot take SGLT2 inhibitors for medical reasons may not benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to a pill-based option that reduces harmful belly/neck fat and improves obstructive sleep apnea for overweight adults.
How similar studies have performed: SGLT2 inhibitors reliably reduce blood sugar, weight, and visceral fat and alter fluid balance, but their direct effect on obstructive sleep apnea is largely untested and this approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Cleveland, United States
- Case Western Reserve University — Cleveland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Neeland, Ian Jason — Case Western Reserve University
- Study coordinator: Neeland, Ian Jason
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.