Dados do Trabalho

Título

EFFECT OF MELATONIN ON DIABETES MARKERS AND SOCIAL JET LAG ACCORDING TO CHRONOTYPE

Introdução

Night work has been associated with the development of metabolic disorders, which occurs mainly due to circadian misalignment, short sleep duration and melatonin suppression. Type 2 diabetes is one of the main metabolic disorders among night workers.

Objetivo

To evaluate the effects of exogenous melatonin supplementation on diabetes markers (insulin, glucose and glycated hemoglobin) and social jet lag (SJL), according to chronotype, among night shift nursing workers (nurses and nursing technicians).

Métodos

This is a randomized, double-blind, crossover-type controlled clinical trial carried out with 26 nursing professionals who worked permanent night shifts of 12x36 h. The intervention was carried out in two phases (three months each) and consisted in the administration of 3 mg of melatonin or placebo in the nights of nocturnal sleep (nights between shifts and days-off). To evaluate the SJL before and after each intervention phase in comparison to baseline, a generalized linear model (GLM) was performed. To assess whether there was an intervention effect in diabetes markers and SJL, according to chronotype, repeated measures ANOVA was performed.

Resultados

The mean age of the participants was 37.8 year-old (EP 1.1 yo), the majority was nurses (53.8%) and married (61.5%). Among with the more intermediate chronotype, fasting blood glucose levels decreased after using melatonin and increased again after using placebo in comparison to baseline. In addition, insulin levels increased after placebo compared to melatonin, but not in relation to baseline, regardless to chronotype. No effect on glycated hemoglobin and on SJL was observed.

Conclusões

The administration of exogenous melatonin promoted a reduction in insulin levels among the night workers and reduced fasting glucose among the participants with intermediate chronotype.

Palavras-chave

Diabetes; Nursing; Sleep; Night Work.