A systematic review of the relationship between night shift work and oxidative stress

Chronobiol Int. 2021 Oct 14:1-14. doi: 10.1080/07420528.2021.1989446. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTNight shift workers make up an essential part of the modern workforce. However, night shift workers have higher incidences of late in life diseases and earlier mortality. Night shift workers experience circadian rhythm disruption due to working overnight. Sleep disruption is thought to increase oxidative stress, defined as an imbalance of excess pro-oxidative factors and reactive oxygen species over anti-oxidative activity. Oxidative stress can damage cells, proteins and DNA and can eventually lead to varied chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's and dementia. This review aimed to understand whether night shift workers were at greater risk of oxidative stress. Twelve correlational studies published in 2001-2019 were included in the review that measured the levels of oxidative stress indicators from working a single night shift as well as comparisons between those who regularly work night shifts and only day shifts. All studies had evidence to support the relationship between working night shifts and increased oxidative stress indicators. Specifically, night shift work was associated with increased DNA damage, reduced DNA repair capacity, increased lipid peroxidation, higher levels of reactive oxygen species, and to a lesser extent, a reduction in antioxidant defence. These results suggest a potential link between circadian rhythm disrupti...
Source: Chronobiology International - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: research