THE EFFECT OF NIGHT-SHIFT WORK ON THE LEVEL OF URINARY 6-SULPHATOXYMELATONIN IN MEN OVER FIVE DAYS

Received 2023-04-13; Accepted 2023-06-27; Published 2023-10-19

Authors

  • Yin Cheng Lim Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Malaysia.
  • Victor Chee Wai Hoe Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Malaysia.
  • Nirmala Bhoo Pathy Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Malaysia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22452/jummec.vol26no2.28

Keywords:

circadian rhythm, melatonin, shift work

Abstract

Night-shift work may adversely affect health. This study aimed to assess the effect of night-shift work on the level of urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin. Repeated measures of urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin on the morning before night-shift work and after first, third and fifth night-shift work was undertaken in 29 males, Malay, day-night-shift workers. A total of 29 male workers participated in this study. Median age was 29 years old. The highest level of urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin was at time point 1, followed by a significant reduction from time point 1 to time point 2. Subsequently, there was a progressive increase of urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin from time point 2 to 4. However, the urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin did not normalise at time point 4 and remained lower than the baseline
reading taken at time point 1. This appears to suggest that workers were not able to achieve circadian adaptation to night-shift work even after five days of night-shift work. Findings from the current study could be useful as a reference, in developing strategies to enhance circadian adaptation to night-shift work.

Author Biographies

  • Victor Chee Wai Hoe, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Malaysia.

     

     

  • Nirmala Bhoo Pathy, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Malaysia.

     

     

     

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Published

2023-10-19

Issue

Vol. 26 No. 2 (2023)

Section

Research article

License

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