Parâmetros hemato-bioquímicos e estresse oxidativo em trabalhadores noturnos: Influência do período do dia destinado à alimentação

Abstract

Night work subjects the individual to a variety of lifestyle changes, among which the increase in food consumption at night is a factor that extends the eating period and can disrupt circadian rhythms. This modality of work has been associated with metabolic alterations and the development of chronic diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, in which the involvement of hemato-biochemical changes and oxidative stress is already well known. The reduction of the feeding period has shown metabolic and weight loss benefits, especially in animal models. However, its influence on hemato-biochemical parameters and oxidative stress are not well understood in night workers. In this sense, the objective of the present study was to evaluate hemato-biochemical and oxidative stress parameters in nocturnal workers with higher and lower eating duration, and to verify their association with anthropometric variables. The hypothesis is that individuals with lower eating duration present lower oxidative stress and better hemato-biochemical profile. A cross-sectional study was performed with 36 night-time workers, who were divided into 2 groups based on median eating duration (≤ 13h30m and> 13h30m). Anthropometric (Body Mass Index, BMI, and Waist Circumference, CC) and hemato-biochemical parameters and markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense were evaluated. Except for the hematocrit, which was higher in the group with higher eating duration, no differences were found between the analyzed parameters, which refuted our initial hypothesis. However, BMI and, mainly, CC, were associated with a greater number of alterations in hemato-biochemical and oxidative stress parameters, and this may have negative implications, mainly related to cardiovascular diseases. Positive correlations were found with erythrocytes (ρ=0,59, p=0,012), hemoglobin (ρ=0,49, p=0,044), hematocrit (ρ=0,50, p=0,039), platelets (ρ=0,54, p=0,024), triglycerides (ρ=0,50, p=0,041), uric acid (ρ=0,62, p=0,007), carbonils (ρ=0,48, p=0,053), H2O2 (ρ=0,48, p=0,068) and nitrite (ρ=0,60, p=0,014), and a negative correlation was observed with superoxide dismutase (ρ= -0,55, p=0,021). The occurrence of these correlations only in the group with eating duration >13h30m suggests that workers with eating duration ≤ 13h30m have some protective mechanism for cardiovascular risk factors related to fat gain (mainly abdominal). Although the 24-hour fasting period has not been evaluated in this study, as it increases with the decrease in the feeding period, it is possible that this protective mechanism is the longest fasting period.