Efeito da alternância dos turnos de trabalho sobre o consumo alimentar de trabalhadores rodiziantes

Abstract

Background: Studies highlighted unhealthy eating patterns and irregular meal times among shift workers. However, the impact of the rotation between day, afternoon and night work and free days within a short period of time on the food consumption pattern is poorly addressed in the literature. Objective: To evaluate the effect of shift rotation on eating duration (ED) and also to assess the effect of ED on energy and macronutrients intake. Methods: Thirty male shift workers from a mining company were evaluated over 10 days in a shift schedule carried out as follow: 2 days in the morning shift (D1 and D2 – 8:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.); 2 days in the afternoon shift (D3 and D4 – 4:00p.m. to 0:00a.m.); 24h free-day (D5 – 0:00a.m. to 0:00a.m.); 2 days at night shift (D6 and D7 – 0:00a.m. to 8:00a.m.); and a 72h free (D8, D9 and D10). Dietary intake was evaluated by 24h recalls (R24h). ED was defined as the interval between the first meal after waking and last meal before the longest sleep period onset. Sleep and awake periods were evaluated by actigraphy. ED pattern (EDP) was classified according the frequency of ED <12h over 10 days: shorter-EDP (≤40%); intermediate-EDP (>40% and <70%); and longer-EDP (≥ 70%). Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to analyze the effect of shift on ED and the effect of ED on energy and nutrients intake. Generalized linear models (GzLM) were performed to determine the effect of ED patterns on anthropometrics and energy and nutrients intake. Results: Shift rotation schedule had an effect on ED; ED also had an effect on energy and macronutrients intake. ED, energy, and carbohydrate intake were higher in the 24h free-day, extended by the first night shift (16:06h, 2640 kcal, 321 g, respectively) than ED which occurred right after the second night shift (10:24h, 1673 kcal, 216 g, respectively) (p<0.05). Individuals with shorter-ED patterns had a lower intake of energy and macronutrients than intermediate and longerED patterns ones (p<0.05). Conclusion: It is concluded that rotating shift work had an effect on ED, and ED variations also had an effect on energy and macronutrients intake, especially on the transition between 24h free-day and the first night shift, and that a shorter ED pattern can lead to a lower intake of energy and macronutrients than other patterns. Additional studies should evaluate the chronic effect of this pattern on the nutritional and metabolic health of workers.