Work Intensity, Low‐Grade Inflammation, and Oxidative Status: A Comparison between Office and Slaughterhouse Workers

Abstract

Limited knowledge exists about the impact of physical workload on oxidative stress in different occupational categories. Thus, we aimed to investigate the oxidative and inflammatory status in employees with different physical workloads. We enrolled a total of 79 male subjects, 27 office workers (mean age 38.8 ± 9.1 years) and 52 heavy workers, in a slaughterhouse (mean age 40.8 ± 8.2 years). Fasting blood was drawn from an antecubital vein in the morning of the midweek before an 8-hour or 12-hour work shift. The antioxidative capacity was assessed measuring total antioxidant capacity (TAC), uric acid, total polyphenols (PPm), and endogenous peroxidase activity (EPA). Total peroxides (TOC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were analyzed as prooxidative biomarkers, and an oxidative stress index (OSI) was calculated. In addition, hsCRP, interleukin-6 (IL-6), MDA-LDL IgM antibodies, galectin-3, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were measured as biomarkers of chronic systemic inflammation and emotional stress. TOC (p = 0.032), TAC (p < 0.001), ACTH (p < 0.001), OSI (p = 0.011), and hsCRP (p = 0.019) were significantly increased in the heavy workers group, while EPA, BDNF (p < 0.001), and polyphenols (p = 0.004) were significantly higher in office workers. Comparison between 8 and 12 h shifts showed a worse psychological condition in heavy workers with increased levels for hsCRP (p = 0.001) and reduced concentration of BDNF (p = 0.012) compared to office workers. Oxidative stress and inflammation are induced in heavy workers and are particularly pronounced during long working hours, that is, 12-hour versus 8-hour shifts.

The Risk of Night Shift Workers to the Glucose Blood Levels, Saliva, and Dental Caries

“…Increased ROS forms oxidative stress that is followed by an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA), which continues to create imbalance in the body and affect disease progression. 18 19 20 Increased blood glucose can be affected by insulin, which experiences resistance that is influenced by levels of ROS, namely excessive MDA in the cell. Free radicals (MDA) are formed disproportionately by oxidation of nonenzymatic proteins and oxidative degradation of glycated proteins (advanced glycation end products) in type 2 diabetes mellitus.…”

A Micromethod for Polyphenol High-Throughput Screening Saves 90 Percent Reagents and Sample Volume

“…It might be assumed that, with adequate nutrition, polyphenols will provide a sufficient level for antioxidative protection, though diabetic and celiac patients could require polyphenol and antioxidant supplementation, perhaps as red grape extracts without sugar and flour. Due to the adaptations in the PPm assay, this method is also suitable for human specimens, as has been shown previously [21] with respect to work intensity between office workers and manual laborers. In a previous clinical pilot study (Lindschinger et al, accepted in MMW; Springer Verlag), we observed an unexpected decrease of the total polpyphenols in serum of the study participants at the end of supplementation (after six weeks) with a vitamin B complex in the range of 2.5 RDA, in spite of a significant increase of each B vitamin.…”

“…For the mesaurement of the total antioxidant capacity in respective samples, we used a commercially available colorimetric assay (TAC ® , Labor Diagnostic Nord, Nordhorn, Germany). The method is based on the inhibition of radical mediated coloring of tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) by antioxidants [21,22]. Briefly, 25 µL of standards (Trolox: 0, 0.375, 0.75, 1.5, and 3 mmol) controls and samples were incubated with 100 µL of reagent A, consisting of 30% hydrogenperoxide and citrate-substrate buffer in a proportion of 1:1000 and 50 µL reagent B, consisting of horseradish peroxidase (25 mU), TMB, and a citrate-substrate buffer in a proportion of 1:10:1000, in uncoated microtitre plates.…”

A Randomized Pilot Trial to Evaluate the Bioavailability of Natural versus Synthetic Vitamin B Complexes in Healthy Humans and Their Effects on Homocysteine, Oxidative Stress, and Antioxidant Levels

“…The combined vitamin B supplementation causes a marked decrease in ROS, protein oxidation, and an enhancement of antioxidative enzymes [9,[14][15][16]. Subjects continuously exposed to low-grade oxidative stress, such as manual laborers [17] and patients suffering from schizophrenia [18] or chronic illnesses including cancer, might particularly benefit from the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory impact of the vitamin B in the prevention of lipid peroxidation [19,20].…”

“…(Höflein/D., Austria). This method was described previously[17] and is based on the reaction of polyphenols with transition metals that occurs when the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent is used. The dark-coloured complex was measured at 766 nm.…”