['This study examined insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) production and its association with the metabolic syndrome (MS) in men with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).', 'In total, 47 overweight and obese men who had been referred for suspected OSA underwent polysomnography and were classified based on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) into three groups: no OSA, < 5 events/h (n = 11); mild OSA, ≥ 5 to < 15 events/h (n = 8); and moderate-severe OSA, ≥ 15 events/h (n = 28). The assessment of the somatotropic axis function included IGF-1 measurement. MS was diagnosed according to the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines.', 'IGF-1 level in the moderate-severe OSA group was lower than in the no-OSA group (156.8 ± 54.3 μg/L versus 225.5 ± 80.5 μg/L; p = 0.013). IGF-1 level was negatively correlated with body mass index, waist circumference (WC), AHI, and sleep duration with oxygen (O2) saturation < 90% and positively correlated with the average and minimum O2 saturation (p = 0.027). In a multivariable linear regression, considering WC and minimum O2 saturation as independent variables, only the minimum O2 saturation was a predictor of low IGF-1 levels. The proportions of patients with MS were different between the three groups (18.2% in no OSA; 25% in mild OSA, and 57.1% in moderate-severe OSA; p = 0.047). Furthermore, in the lowest tertile of IGF-1 value, 66.7% of patients were affected by MS (p = 0.049). Hemoglobin (Hb)A1c correlated negatively with the minimum O2 saturation and IGF-1 levels. However, in multivariable linear regression only IGF-1 levels were a predictor of HbA1c levels.'] Are iGF-1 Levels Inversely Associated With Metabolic Syndrome in Obstructive Sleep Apnea?