Monthly fluctuations in 25-hydroxy-vitamin D levels in day and rotating night shift hospital workers

Abstract

Purpose Epidemiological studies have suggested that indoor hospital employees, either day or night shift workers, are at high risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Interestingly, previous reports have also described a higher prevalence of vitamin D (25OHD) deficiency among these workers. However, few studies have determined the monthly variations in 25OHD levels in indoor hospital employees. Methods To address this lack of knowledge, in 2018, during the periodic health surveillance checks at the Service of Occupational Medicine, we measured 25OHD levels in a group of indoor hospital workers (88 rotating night shift workers vs 200 day workers). Each participant received a single annual health surveillance check. Results The mean levels of 25OHD were consistently below the lower limit of the normal range in both groups throughout the year. Only in the summer, day workers but not rotating night shift workers (mean 25.9 ± 11.3 ng/ml vs 23.1 ± 9.1 ng/ml; p = 0.042) showed levels significantly higher than those in the other seasons. This difference remained statistically significant even after correction for study covariates [β = − 1.649 (CI − 0.283/− 3.482), p = 0.039]. A cosinor analysis confirmed that the difference in the 25OHD levels between groups was present later in the year. Conclusions We found that relatively young healthy hospital workers, especially those with rotating night shifts, in the absence of significant metabolic risk factors, have a high risk of 25OHD deficiency/insufficiency. Because 25OHD deficiency may lead to a progression to more severe conditions such as osteoporosis or bone fractures, our results should be verified in larger cohorts including different ancestries.

High body mass index and night shift work are associated with COVID-19 in health care workers

“…Our preliminary results suggest that r-NSWs are at greater risk of COVID-19 infection risk, thus indicating another possible negative health consequence associated with shift work [3,4], which, in the health care sector, accounts for approximately 45% of workers. Despite its economic and social relevance, shift work results in a disruption of biological rhythms, thus predisposing individuals to poor metabolic health by promoting excess caloric intake and/or decreasing energy expenditure in response to reduced sleep [5].…”

Night Shift Work Is Associated with Reduced Rate of Humoral Response Following Vaccination for HBV

“…Despite its economic and social relevance, shift work results in a disruption of biological rhythms, thus predisposing individuals to poor metabolic and cardiovascular health in response to reduced sleep. In fact, the literature indicates that NSWs are often affected from cardio-metabolic disorders [ 6 , 7 , 27 , 28 ] due to unhealthy behavioral factors, such as hyper-caloric diet, sedentarism and obesity. Accordingly, we have recently reported that HCWs with a “dysfunctional circadian clock” and with increased levels of IL1b carry a higher risk of developing carotid atherosclerosis through an overload of IL6 being released [ 29 ].…”

“…In fact, night shift workers’ behavioral and environmental cycles are typically misaligned relative to the endogenous circadian system. Therefore, compared with day workers, NSWs have an increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disease [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ], but, interestingly, recent published studies have also reported that NSWs have slight immunological disorders, such as unbalanced levels of circulating monocytes, T-lymphocytes and immunological biomarkers [ 8 , 9 ]. However, the impact of circadian rhythm disruption on the persistence of immune response following vaccination remains unclear [ 10 ].…”

Sunlight Exposure and Phototherapy: Perspectives for Healthy Aging in an Era of COVID-19

“…In addition to the application of phototherapy in skin diseases, phototherapy has been widely applied for many diseases, including mental disorders [24,25], sleep disorders [26,27], and neurological disorders [28,29]. In addition, phototherapy is suitable for shift workers, such as rotating night-shift hospital workers who have a higher risk of vitamin D 3 insufficiency/deficiency [30]. Well-designed studies using phototherapy for shift workers have been conducted at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and treatment subjects have reported better sleep, performance, and physical and mental well-being than control subjects due to the adjustment of circadian rhythms [31][32][33].…”