Melatonin, sleep, and shift work adaptation

Night work is associated with disrupted circadian rhythms, fatigue, accidents, and chronic disease. Melatonin secretion helps regulate sleep and circadian rhythms. Melatonin, sleep disturbances, and symptoms (sleep, fatigue, mental) were compared among workers on permanent day, swing, and night shif...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of occupational and environmental medicine Vol. 47; no. 9; p. 893
Main Authors Burch, James B, Yost, Michael G, Johnson, Wendy, Allen, Emily
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.09.2005
Subjects
Accidents, Occupational
Adaptation, Physiological
Adult
Circadian Rhythm
Fatigue
Female
Humans
Male
Melatonin - analogs & derivatives
Melatonin - blood
Personnel Staffing and Scheduling
Risk Factors
Sleep Wake Disorders - etiology
Wounds and Injuries
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Summary:Night work is associated with disrupted circadian rhythms, fatigue, accidents, and chronic disease. Melatonin secretion helps regulate sleep and circadian rhythms. Melatonin, sleep disturbances, and symptoms (sleep, fatigue, mental) were compared among workers on permanent day, swing, and night shifts. Urinary 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate (6-OHMS) was measured in postwork and postsleep samples. Disrupted circadian melatonin production was evaluated using the sleep:work 6-OHMS ratio. Wrist actigraphy characterized light exposures and sleep characteristics. Night workers had altered melatonin, disrupted sleep, and elevated symptom prevalence. Subjects grouped by their sleep:work 6-OHMS ratio rather than shift had even greater symptom prevalence. Risks for two or more symptoms were 3.5 to 8 times greater among workers with sleep:work ratios < or =1 compared to those with ratios >1. This ratio may help identify workers at increased risk for accidents or injuries.
ISSN:1076-2752
DOI:10.1097/01.jom.0000177336.21147.9f