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.

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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

Section

Research article