title: [Effect of vitamin B12 on sleep quality and performance of shift workers].
abstract: In modern industry shift systems are important for optimal economic utilization of high-grade working plants. The implementation of shift systems, however, goes along with far-reaching social and health responsibilities of these organizations. This study plores, to what extent the intake of vitamin B12 before the beginning of a day shift has a stabilizing influence on the quality of sleep and the subjective estimate of the performance of the volunteers. The study was performed on 10 healthy, male staff members of a Tyrolean industrial plant with a mean age of 35 years, who work in a 12/12-h shift system as doormen. In a single blind placebo-verum-order all volunteers received first of all placebo for 2 weeks, then vitamin B12 (Methylcobal, 3 mg) for 3 weeks, at the morning before the day shift. By means of modified sleep-onset- and wake-up- records we studied the morning and evening state, the estimates of sleep time / -quality as well as the subjective judgement of the performance. The statements about periods of rest and activity were compared with the objective data of the wrist actimetry. Vitamin B12--concentrations in the serum were prepared for baseline and verum trials for each individual. In the whole group there were no significant differences in sleep-onset and wake-up ratings, nor in the subjective judgement of performance between placebo and verum. There were no significant particularities with respect to the weekdays or the time of day of activity. There was a tendency for the total sleep time in the verum trial to be shorter. The mean estimate of sleep quality under verum in significantly higher than under placebo in all volunteers.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Neurologisch-psychiatrische Funktionsdiagnostik, Krankenhauses Neuwittelsbach, München, Deutschland.
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Bohr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000187:drug effects*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects*; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance
chemical_list: D014805:Vitamin B 12