Effects of half- or whole-night shifts on physiological and cognitive parameters in women

Abstract

Background: The study assessed the effects of whole- or half-night shifts on leptin, melatonin, sex hormones, interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-6, hematological parameters, sleep quality and attentional performance in women working in the health sector.

Methods: Women working whole-night shifts (16:00-08:00 h, n = 20), half-night shifts (16:00-24:00 h, n = 20) or day shifts (08:00-16:00 h, n = 20) participated in the study. Blood pressure, respiratory rate, proximal skin temperature (forehead), blood glucose, leptin, melatonin, estradiol, progesterone, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 concentrations, complete blood count (CBC) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured in the beginning and at the end of the shifts. The participants filled in sleep quality questionnaires and performed visual attention tests.

Results: Half- and whole-night shifts caused problems in sleep duration and quality and disturbed the melatonin rhythm. Women working both half- and whole-night shifts had significantly higher nucleated erythrocytes (P = 0.006), eosinophils (P = 0.031), lymphocytes (P = 0.001) and leptin concentrations (P = 0.001) but had lower ESR (P = 0.046) and neutrophil percentage (P = 0.001) than that of day-time workers. Whole-night shifts caused additional changes including lower attentional performance (P = 0.035), lower platelet counts (P = 0.000) and lower estradiol levels (P = 0.029), but higher TNF-α levels (P = 0.000), than the control group. Moreover, whole-night shifts increased IL-1β levels before the shift (P < 0.001) and increased IL-6 levels over the half-night shifts (P < 0.05).

Conclusions: Half-night shifts disturbed sleep parameters and the melatonin rhythm, perturbed blood cell turnover and increased leptin levels. Whole-night shifts caused additional problems including suppressed estradiol, activated inflammatory responses and decreased visual attention. All together, the data suggest that night shifts, especially, whole-night shifts should be refrained or countermeasures should be taken.

NOTE: This publication cites (Ref. N.47): Di Bella G., Mascia F., Gualano L., Di Bella L. - Melatonin anticancer effect: review. Int J Mol Sci. 2013;14:2410–2430.

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See also:

- Official Web Site: The Di Bella Method;

- The Di Bella Method (A Fixed Part - Melatonin tablets. From 30-40mg/day up to 200mg/day orally in patients with advanced stage of cancer disease and/or patients without respond to traditional treatments);

- Melatonin with adenosine solubilized in water and stabilized with glycine for oncological treatment - technical preparation, effectivity and clinical findings;

- About Melatonin - In vitro, review and in vivo publications;

- Publication: Melatonin anticancer effects: Review (from Di Bella's Foundation);

- Publication: Key aspects of melatonin physiology: 30 years of research (from Di Bella's Foundation);

- The Synergism of Somatostatin, Melatonin, Vitamins Prolactin and Estrogen Inhibitors Increased Survival, Objective Response and Performance Status In 297 Cases of Breast Cancer;

- Complete objective response, stable for 5 years, with the Di Bella Method, of multiple-metastatic carcinoma of the breast;

- Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of the first-line treatment with somatostatin combined with melatonin, retinoids, vitamin D3, and low doses of cyclophosphamide in 20 cases of breast cancer: a preliminary report;

- The Di Bella Method (DBM) improved survival, objective response and performance status in a retrospective observational clinical study on 122 cases of breast cancer;

- Complete objective response to biological therapy of plurifocal breast carcinoma;

- Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme (grade IV – WHO 2007): a case of complete objective response achieved by means of the concomitant administration of Somatostatin and Octreotide – Retinoids – Vitamin E – Vitamin D3 – Vitamin C – Melatonin – D2 R agonists (Di Bella Method – DBM) associated with Temozolomide;

- The Di Bella Method DBM improved survival objective response and performance status in a retrospective observational clinical study on 23 tumours of the head and neck;

- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Long-Lasting Remission with Combination of Cyclophosphamide, Somatostatin, Bromocriptine, Retinoids, Melatonin, and ACTH;

- Somatostatin, retinoids, melatonin, vitamin D, bromocriptine, and cyclophosphamide in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients with low performance status;

- Somatostatin, retinoids, melatonin, vitamin D, bromocriptine, and cyclophosphamide in chemotherapy-pretreated patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma and low performance status;

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- Cyclophosphamide plus Somatostatin, Bromocriptin, Retinoids, Melatonin and ACTH in the Treatment of Low-grade Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphomas at Advanced Stage: Results of a Phase II Trial;

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- Low-grade Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma at Advanced Stage: A Case Successfully Treated With Cyclophosphamide Plus Somatostatin, Bromocriptine, Retinoids, and Melatonin;

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