title: Increased triglyceride levels in shift workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess an independent relationship between shift work and serum lipid levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two plants of northern France: a chemical one and a nuclear power station.
  
  
  METHODS
  All the shift workers of the chemical plant and of one part of the nuclear station. One hundred nine persons were selected, 25 were excluded or absent during the study, and 11 refused to participate. Day workers matched with shift workers according to age, educational level, birthplace, and occupational physical activity level served as controls; 109 were selected, 26 were excluded or absent, and 10 refused to participate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fasting venous plasma concentration of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol; dietary intake assessed by a 3-day record, smoking habits, and body mass index (BMI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Shift workers had significantly higher levels of serum triglyceride (1.26 versus 1.03 mmol/L, p = 0.01). Cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels were similar for the two groups. There was no difference in energy and nutrient intake, but day workers had a higher alcohol intake (15.64 g/d versus 9.3 g/d, p = 0.03). Multivariate analysis conducted with triglycerides as dependent variable and shift work, BMI, smoking, age, leisure time physical activity level, energy intake, and alcohol intake as independent variables confirmed that shift work has a significant explanatory power for triglyceride levels (beta = 0.134, p = 0.0005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms that shift work is associated with an increase of triglyceride levels independent of dietary intake. We did not find any influence of shift work on cholesterol and HDL cholesterol. Despite this latter fact, our findings are to be considered in the explanation of coronary risk among shift workers. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanism of this relative hypertriglyceridemia: stress induced by shift work or diurnal rhythm disturbances.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Universitaire de Médecine du Travail, Faculté de Médecine, Lille, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Romon
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Nuttens
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fievet
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pot
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Bard
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Furon
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Fruchart
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012907:Smoking; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides