Night shift work can increase the risk.
Night shift work has long been associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases, and a recent study sheds light on a potential explanation for this phenomenon.
Researchers have discovered that even a few days on a night shift schedule can disrupt the body’s natural rhythms linked to the regulation of blood sugar, energy expenditure, and inflammation.
According to Hans Van Dongen, senior study author and director of the Sleep and Performance Research Center at Washington State University, there are intricate processes governed by the master biological clock in the brain, dictating the distinction between day and night. However, disruptions to these internal rhythms, as experienced by night shift workers, can lead to enduring stress within the body, with possible long-term health implications.
Night shift workers are known to face a heightened risk of serious health conditions, including heart attacks, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and cancer, as highlighted by Harvard Medical School.
In a controlled laboratory experiment, researchers subjected volunteers to simulated night or day shift schedules for three days. Following the completion of their final shift, participants were kept awake for 24 hours under constant conditions to assess their internal biological rhythms.
Blood samples collected during this period revealed proteins within immune cells closely linked to the master biological clock governing the body’s 24-hour rhythm. While the master clock remained relatively resilient to altered shift schedules, many other proteins exhibited substantial changes in their rhythms among night shift workers.
Notably, there was nearly a complete reversal in the rhythms of proteins responsible for managing blood sugar, alongside desynchronized processes involved in insulin production and sensitivity.
This disruption may occur as the body attempts to counteract blood sugar fluctuations induced by the night shift schedule. While this response may initially serve as a protective mechanism, prolonged dysregulation of blood sugar levels can lead to cellular and organ damage over time.
The researchers aim to further investigate these findings in real-world settings, exploring whether the outcomes observed in their laboratory experiment align with the experiences of individuals engaged in regular night shift work.
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