The workload of heavy workers is associated with increased low-grade inflammation, emotional and oxidative stress

Abstract

Background There is limited knowledge with regard to oxidative stress in different working categories e.g. between heavy workers and desktop workers. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidative as well as oxidative stress profile exactly in these occupational groups. Methods We enrolled 79 male subjects i.e. 27 employees as desktop workers (age 38.8 ± 9.1) and 52 heavy workers in a slaughterhouse (age 40.8 ± 8.2). Blood was drawn in the morning after an 8-hour work shift from an antecubital vein. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), uric acid, total polyphenols (PPm) and endogenous peroxidase-activity (EPA) were determined to evaluate the antioxidative potential while total peroxides (TOC), malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), were used as oxidative stress biomarkers. In addition, we analysed adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), hsCRP and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as biomarkers for inflammation and emotional stress. Results These two working groups show significant differences between BMI (p=0.0026). Furthermore, we observed significant increased concentrations for TOC (p Conclusion These results indicate a distinct association between occupational category and prevalence for oxidative stress. Desktop workers were at an advantage over heavy workers for each biomarker indicating a stress situation except for the total antioxidant status. It is a fact that uric acid is an excellent antioxidant and becomes increased during oxidative stress. Thus, we determined uric acid and observed a high correlation to TAC, which is an explanation for this paradox – in spite of the fact, that there was no significant difference for uric acid concentrations between both groups. Although classical biomarkers as MDA, MPO or IL-6 were insensitive to indicate differences in these two working groups, we still achieved significant differences with sensitive and high-throughput methods to the disadvantage for heavy workers, disclosing the linkage between low-grade inflammation emotional and oxidative stress. Further studies are needed to verify these preliminary results and to complement different working groups.