EFFECT OF SHIFT WORK ON BODY MASS INDEX AND OTHER BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES

Introduction: Shift work is associated with increased incidence of obesity and other features of the metabolic syndrome. Health problems in shift workers are caused by several factors, one of these factors is the stress hormone cortisol. Aim of the work: to assess the association between night shift work and the changes in body mass index (BMI), fasting blood glucose, lipid (total cholesterol, HDL, and triglycerides) levels, cortisol hormone secretion, uric acid blood level and salivary cortisol level. Materials & Methods: this study was conducted on 160 male security personnel, their age ranging from 35 to 40 years in Cairo . Regarding the work schedule 80 subjects worked daytime for 8 hours, whereas 80 individuals worked only night shift for 12 hour with one day off, for at least continuous 5 years. Results: the results showed no significant difference between night shift and day workers as regard age and working years. As regard body mass index (BMI) there was highly significant difference (<0.001) between night and day workers. There was no significant difference between night and day shift workers as regard total cholesterol level, triglycerides, and fasting blood glucose (P< 0.05) where as there is a significant difference between night and day shift workers as regard HDL –cholesterol (P<0.05) and a highly significant difference between night and day shift workers as regard uric acid blood level (P<0.001).A significant difference was detected in salivary cortisol levels among night shift workers where the salivary cortisol level is higher in the evening than in the morning, also there is a significant difference in salivary cortisol level among day shift workers where the salivary cortisol level is higher in the morning than in the evening (P<0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest an association between long-term shift work and increased body mass index, elevation cortisol level, HDL–cholesterol, fasting blood glucose and uric acid level. Further studies are needed to understand the biological mechanisms involved and the complex behavioral and social adaptations experienced by night-shift workers. Regular screening health programs should be done to maintain the health of shift workers.