Food and nutrient intake among workers with different shift systems

Abstract

In this study, shift work and working environment were associated with dietary habits, and this association was not explained by other characteristics such as workers' educational level. Shift workers' increased risk for chronic diseases should be taken into account and lifestyle counselling including advice in nutrition should be incorporated in routine occupational healthcare of shift workers.

Seafarer fatigue: a review of risk factors, consequences for seafarers’ health and safety and options for mitigation

“…It should be noted, however, that experimental studies are far from consistent where it concerns the metabolic consequences of short sleep duration [94][95][96]. Shift work has been found to be associated with unfavourable dietary habits and consequently to overweight and related chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes [97]. Night shift work, in particular for workers of older ages, increases obesity [98], calorie intake, and smoking, and causes shorter sleep duration [67].…”

Shift workers have a similar diet quality but higher energy intake than day workers

“…Although previous studies often suggested poorer diet quality among shift compared to day workers, each study observed a less healthy consumption of different nutrients or foods among shift workers (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(22)(23)(24). In contrast to a less healthy consumption of some food items, it has also been observed that shift workers had a more healthy consumption of nutrients and foods, such as more fruits and less saturated fats, than day workers (13,18,20,22). In our study, shift workers also had both a more healthy (ie, cereals, dairy products and fish) and less healthy (ie, meat and cholesterol) consumption of some nutrients and foods compared to day workers.…”

“…Shift workers were also found to have a lower intake of fruits and vegetables (17,18), fiber (19) and some vitamins and minerals (eg, vitamin B, C, magnesium) (19) than day workers. In contrast, one study has shown a higher consumption of fruits for shift workers in comparison with day workers (20), and other studies showed no differences for fruits and vegetables (21), vitamin C (18) and fiber (18,22).…”

“…Most of these studies also lacked adjustment for major confounders, such as age (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24). Another important drawback is that the available studies focused on single nutrients or foods (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23)(24). For a comprehensive evaluation of differences in dietary intake, it is important to study dietary patterns because different nutrients and foods have additive and synergistic interactions (25).…”

Does higher energy intake explain weight gain and increased metabolic risks among shift workers?

“…It has been suggested that shift workers have more eating events per day than day workers (11), and it seems that shift workers make more unfavorable food choices than day workers do, preferring snack foods and sugary drinks (11,12). In a recent study, shift working men were less likely to consume vegetables and fruits daily and women had higher intake of saturated fat compared with day workers (13).…”