Abstract
BackgroundSome medical disorders have higher prevalence in shift workers than others. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of night-shift-working on total plasma antioxidant capacity, with respect to the causative role of oxidative stress in induction of some of these disorders.MethodsTwo blood samples were taken from 44 workers with a rotational shift schedule, one after their day shift and one after their night shift. The total plasma antioxidant capacity of each worker was measured through the FRAP method. The impacts of age and weight were also assessed.ResultsThe total plasma antioxidant capacity was measured in 44 shift-workers with a mean age of 36.57 years (SD: 10.18) and mean BMI of 26.06 (SD: 4.37) after their day and night shifts. The mean reduction of total plasma antioxidant capacity after the night shift was 105.8 μmol/L (SD: 146.39). Also, a significant correlation was shown between age and weight and total plasma antioxidant capacity. Age and weight were found to be inversely related to total plasma antioxidant capacity; as age and weight increased, the total plasma antioxidant capacity decreased.ConclusionShift work can act as an oxidative stressor and may induce many medical disorders. Aging and obesity in shift workers makes them more sensitive to this hazardous effect.
Highlights
Shift work is defined as work primarily outside of normal daytime working hours [1,2]
There was a mean reduction of total plasma antioxidant capacity from the day to the night shift of 105.8 μmol/L (SD: 146.39), p < 0.001
The correlation between age and total plasma antioxidant capacity was found through a Pearson correlation: r = 0.253, p = 0.049
Summary
Shift work is defined as work primarily outside of normal daytime working hours [1,2]. Nowadays the number of shift workers has increased due to technological development. Shift work is accompanied by a greater incidence of many medical disorders, such as cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and neurological disorders [3,4]. The antioxidant system is the defense system that neutralizes the free radicals produced in the hazardous oxidative pathway. When the production of free radicals exceeds body antioxidant capacity, oxidative stress occurs [5,6,7,8]. Some medical disorders have higher prevalence in shift workers than others. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of night-shift-working on total plasma antioxidant capacity, with respect to the causative role of oxidative stress in induction of some of these disorders
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