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Het werken in ploegendienst op jongere leeftijd is geassocieerd met verhoogde langetermijncortisolwaarden en een verhoogde BMI

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TBV – Tijdschrift voor Bedrijfs- en Verzekeringsgeneeskunde Aims and scope

SAMENVATTING

Achtergrond

De incidentie van obesitas en andere kenmerken van het metabool syndroom is verhoogd bij ploegendienstwerkers. Dit kan het gevolg zijn van een verschil tussen het endogene ritme en het gedrag. Het stresshormoon cortisol zou hierbij een rol kunnen spelen, omdat dit hormoon in een circadiaan ritme wordt uitgescheiden en langdurig verhoogde cortisolwaarden resulteren in verschillende componenten van het metabool syndroom. Wij hebben cortisolwaarden in hoofdhaar van ploegendienst- en dagdienstmedewerkers gemeten om te kijken of er een verschil is in langetermijncortisolwaarden als gevolg van het werken in ploegen.

Methode

Van 33 medewerkers, die in 5 ploegen in een snel voorwaarts roterend rooster werken en 89 dagdienst medewerkers werd een plukje haar verzameld. Cortisol werd geëxtraheerd met methanol en de cortisolwaarden werden in het haarextract gemeten met een ELISA. Lengte en gewicht werden gemeten en BMI werd berekend.

Resultaten

Ploegendienstwerkers hadden hogere haarcortisolwaarden dan dagdienstwerkers: 47,32 pg/mg haar versus 29,72 pg/mg haar (p<0,001). Na splitsing van de groep op basis van de mediane leeftijd, bleek dat de hogere cortisolwaarden alleen aanwezig waren in de jongere groep ploegendienstwerkers: 48,5 pg/mg haar (95% BI: 36,6-64,3) versus 26,42 (95% BI: 22,91-30,55). De BMI was ook hoger in de jongere ploegendienstwerkers, namelijk 27,2 (95% BI: 25,5-28,8) versus 23,7 (95% BI: 22,8-24,7) in jongere dagdienstwerkers. Er was een positieve correlatie tussen haarcortisol en BMI (β=0,262;p=0,005).

Conclusie

Het werken in ploegendienst op jong volwassen leeftijd is geassocieerd met verhoogde langetermijncortisolwaarden en een verhoogd BMI. Verhoogde cortisolwaarden en BMI zouden kunnen bijdragen aan het verhoogde cardiovasculaire risico dat is beschreven in ploegendienstwerkers.

SUMMARY

 

Shift work at a young age is associated with long-term elevated cortisol levels and body mass index

Background

The incidence of obesity and other features of the metabolic syndrome is increased in shift workers. This may be due to a misalignment between the internal rhythm and actual behaviour. The stress hormone cortisol could play a role in this phenomenon because it is secreted in a circadian rhythm, and long-term elevated cortisol leads to elements of the metabolic syndrome. We compared cortisol levels in scalp hair of shift and day workers to study changes in longterm cortisol levels due to shift work.

Methods

Hair samples were collected from 33 workers in a fast forward rotating 5-shift roster and 89 day workers. Cortisol was extracted from the hair samples with methanol, and cortisol levels were measured using ELISA. Height and weight were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated.

Results

Shift workers had higher hair cortisol levels than day workers: 47.32 pg/mg hair vs. 29.72 pg/mg hair (P < 0.001). When divided in groups based on the median age, elevated cortisol levels were present only in younger shift workers: 48.53 pg/mg hair (95% CI = 36.6-64.3) vs. 26.42 pg/mg hair (95% CI = 22.91-30.55). BMI was increased in younger shift workers as well: 27.2 (95% CI = 25.5-28.8)vs. 23.7 (95% CI = 22.8- 24.7) in young day workers. Hair cortisol and BMI were positively correlated (β= 0.262;P = 0.005).

Conclusion

Shift work at a young adult age is associated with elevated long-term cortisol levels and an increased BMI. Elevated cortisol levels and BMI may contribute to the increased cardiovascular risk found in shift workers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. afdeling Interne Geneeskunde, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    L. Manenschijn, F.H. de Jong, J.W. Koper & E.F.C. van Rossum

  2. Arbo Unie Nijverdal, Nijverdal, The Netherlands

    R.G.P.M. van Kruysbergen

Authors
  1. L. Manenschijn
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  2. F.H. de Jong
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  3. J.W. Koper
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  4. E.F.C. van Rossum
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  5. R.G.P.M. van Kruysbergen
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Manenschijn, L., de Jong, F., Koper, J. et al. Het werken in ploegendienst op jongere leeftijd is geassocieerd met verhoogde langetermijncortisolwaarden en een verhoogde BMI. TIJDSCHRIFT VOOR BEDRIJFS- EN VERZEKERINGSGENEESKUNDE 19, 458–461 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12498-011-0231-4

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