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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Sleep Sci 2022; 15(02): 143-148
DOI: 10.5935/1984-0063.20220034
ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Effect of night-shift work on cortisol circadian rhythm and melatonin levels

Authors

  • Maria Carlota Borba Brum 

    1   Clinical Hospital of Porto Alegre, Division of Occupational Medicine - Porto Alegre - Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil.

  • Martha Bergan Senger

    2   Clinical Hospital of Porto Alegre, Division of Clinical Pathology - Porto Alegre - Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil.

  • Claudia Carolina Schnorr

    3   Clinical Hospital of Porto Alegre, Division of Peripheral Vascular Surgery - Porto Alegre - Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil.

  • Lethicia Rozales Ehlert

    2   Clinical Hospital of Porto Alegre, Division of Clinical Pathology - Porto Alegre - Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil.

  • Ticiana da Costa Rodrigues

    4   Clinical Hospital of Porto Alegre, Division of Endocrinology - Porto Alegre - Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil.
    5   Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine - Porto Alegre - Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil.
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Objectives Night-shift work has been associated with several negative effects on worker’s health, possibly due to circadian desynchronization, sleep deprivation and suppression of nocturnal melatonin secretion including exposure to light during the work shift. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of fixed night-shift work versus day-shift work on the sleep-wake cycle and on the night and day levels of cortisol and melatonin.

Material and Methods Saliva samples were obtained from 36 individuals, 19 day workers (12 women and 7 men) and 17 night workers (12 women and 5 men) from a university hospital in southern Brazil, with no history of chronic diseases. Demographic and personal information were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire and sleep information by the Munich chronotype questionnaire.

Results Salivary cortisol showed normal circadian rhythm in day- and night-shift workers, but was attenuated in night-shift workers during their working hours and on leave days. Night workers sleep fewer hours at night and have higher negative social jet lag than day workers.

Conclusion Intervals between night shifts can be beneficial for the recovery of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, minimizing the negative effects on workers’ health, in addition to a preventive approach to aspects related to sleep hygiene and healthy life habits.

Cortisol - Melatonin - Night Work - Circadian Rhythm - Desynchronization


Publication History

Received: 30 April 2021

Accepted: 13 October 2021

Article published online:
01 December 2023

© 2023. Brazilian Sleep Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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