Femoral Neck Bone Mineral Density in Persons Over 50 Years Performing Shiftwork: An Epidemiological Study

The association between night shift work and osteoporosis risk in adults: A cross-sectional analysis using NHANES

Purpose

Through this study, we assess whether night shift work increases the risk of osteoporosis, and explore the effects of age, gender, or lifestyle differences.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included the collection of data from a sample of the US adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) over a 7.3-year period (2007-2008, 2009-2010, 2017-March2020), including 4408 participants (2351[52.8%] men and 2057[47.2%] women), with an age range of 20-80 years. The primary variables, health status, nutrition, harmful lifestyle habits, and bone mineral density (BMD), were segregated, and analyzed according to different work schedules. Linear regression models were conducted to evaluate correlations of night shift work and T-scores. Associations between night shift work and osteoporosis were examined using logistic regression analyses. All regression models were stratified by gender and age ≥50 years. Osteoporosis was defined as BMD at the femoral neck or total spine equal to or less than 2.5 standard deviations below the mean for youthful people of the same gender. All data were obtained using questionnaires and examinations collected in mobile examination center (MEC) from NHANES.

Results

After multivariate adjustment, night shift work was related to statistically significant decreases of the total spine in T-scores of females aged ≥50 years. Furthermore, night shift work of the overall population (OR = 2.31 [95% CI, 1.03-5.18]; P = 0.043) and females aged ≥50 years (OR = 4.6 [95% CI, 1.21-17.54]; P = 0.025) was related to an increased prevalence of osteoporosis.

Conclusion

Night shift work correlates with a higher risk of osteoporosis in the population of the US adults, with the combined effect of age, gender, and harmful lifestyle.

Effect of Circadian Rhythm Disturbance on the Human Musculoskeletal System and the Importance of Nutritional Strategies

The circadian system in the human body responds to daily environmental changes to optimise behaviour according to the biological clock and also influences various physiological processes. The suprachiasmatic nuclei are located in the anterior hypothalamus of the brain, and they synchronise to the 24 h light/dark cycle. Human physiological functions are highly dependent on the regulation of the internal circadian clock. Skeletal muscles comprise the largest collection of peripheral clocks in the human body. Both central and peripheral clocks regulate the interaction between the musculoskeletal system and energy metabolism. The skeletal muscle circadian clock plays a vital role in lipid and glucose metabolism. The pathogenesis of osteoporosis is related to an alteration in the circadian rhythm. In the present review, we discuss the disturbance of the circadian rhythm and its resultant effect on the musculoskeletal system. We also discuss the nutritional strategies that are potentially effective in maintaining the system's homeostasis. Active collaborations between nutritionists and physiologists in the field of chronobiological and chrononutrition will further clarify these interactions. This review may be necessary for successful interventions in reducing morbidity and mortality resulting from musculoskeletal disturbances.

Sleep Disruption and Bone Health

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Review recent literature investigating the relationship between bone health and sleep/circadian disruptions (e.g., abnormal sleep duration, night shift work).

RECENT FINDINGS

Short and long sleep are associated with low bone mineral density (BMD). Recent data from observational studies identified an increased risk of fracture in women with short sleep. Studies suggest that age, sex, weight change, and concurrent circadian misalignment may modify the effects of sleep restriction on bone metabolism. Interventional studies demonstrate alterations in bone metabolism and structure in response to circadian disruption that could underlie the increased fracture risk seen with night shift work. The effects of sleep and circadian disruption during adolescence may have lifelong skeletal consequences if they adversely impact bone modeling. Data suggest that short sleep and night shift work negatively impact bone metabolism and health. Rigorous studies of prevalent sleep and circadian disruptions are needed to determine mechanisms and develop prevention strategies to optimize lifelong skeletal health.

Night shift work and osteoporosis - bone turnover markers among female blue-collar workers in Poland

Osteoporosis is an important public health problem worldwide. Although many factors relating to bone structure have been described so far, the current knowledge on the occupational factors that may affect bone tissue metabolism is strongly limited. Literature data suggest that night shift work, via circadian rhythm disruption, may be considered a potential risk factor. To this date, only five epidemiological studies addressing this problem have been conducted worldwide. The outcomes of three studies confirmed such relationship, namely, a higher fracture risk was found among nurses with a long lifetime duration of night shift work in one study; and a lower bone mineral density was associated with occupational activity during night-time in two studies. In adults, the bone undergoes constant remodelling through bone resorption followed by bone formation. The various molecules released into the circulatory system during these processes are called bone turnover markers. We investigated the possible associations between night shift work and selected bone turnover markers: N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (P1NP), C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), osteocalcin, osteopontin, fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23) and osteoprotegerin, measured in plasma of 189 female blue-collar workers. A significantly higher bone turnover rate was noted among the women working night shifts than among those working only during the day. This may potentially lead to a future development of osteoporosis in this population even if the macroscopic changes in the bone structure are not detectable. Night shift work is a prevailing occupational characteristics nowadays. It has been estimated that about 15-20% of the working population in Europe and the USA perform work under this system. Thus, the problem of osteoporosis can affect a large part of the working-age population.

Sleep disruptions and bone health: what do we know so far?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This review briefly summarizes the growing body of literature addressing the skeletal consequences of sleep and circadian disruption.

RECENT FINDINGS

The most recent data in the field suggest that the diurnal variation in bone turnover markers are because of endogenous circadian rhythmicity linked to clock genes in all bone cells; in a small human intervention study, cumulative sleep restriction with concurrent circadian disruption negatively alter bone turnover markers in a way that could explain the lower BMD and increased fracture risk identified in some prior night shift work studies; abnormal sleep duration and obstructive sleep apnea are associated with low BMD and increased fracture risk in some but not all studies.

SUMMARY

Normal physiology and some animal and human intervention studies suggest that sleep and circadian disruptions, such as night shift work, abnormal sleep durations and obstructive sleep apnea are detrimental to skeletal health. However, additional research in this area is needed to determine which sleep/circadian disturbances are most detrimental to skeletal health, the reversibility of such impairments, and underlying mechanisms.

Association between circadian disruption and diseases: A narrative review

Circadian rhythms play an important role in a wide range of human physiology and pathology. Individuals increasingly experience situations such as night-shift work schedules, likely leading to circadian disruption. Recent studies have also demonstrated that patients with other diseases often show symptoms of circadian disruption as manifested by the sleep-wake cycle and other biological rhythms. Circadian disruption often results in changes to the phase, period, and amplitude of the sleep-wake cycle, melatonin rhythm, and core body temperature. Several cardiometabolic, psychiatric, and neurodegenerative diseases are closely related to circadian disruption. Several interventions are also available, including phototherapy, exogenous melatonin, and exercise. The cumulative findings suggest that circadian disruption can increase risk for some cardiometabolic diseases. Circadian disruption also acts as a concomitant symptom of several psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. More attention should be paid to evaluating the impact of circadian disruption on these related diseases, as well as the benefits of the mitigation interventions for both circadian disruption and related diseases.

Rapid suppression of bone formation marker in response to sleep restriction and circadian disruption in men

We describe the time course of bone formation marker (P1NP) decline in men exposed to ~ 3 weeks of sleep restriction with concurrent circadian disruption. P1NP declined within 10 days and remained lower with ongoing exposure. These data suggest even brief exposure to sleep and circadian disruptions may disrupt bone metabolism.

INTRODUCTION

A serum bone formation marker (procollagen type 1 N-terminal, P1NP) was lower after ~ 3 weeks of sleep restriction combined with circadian disruption. We now describe the time course of decline.

METHODS

The ~ 3-week protocol included two segments: "baseline," ≥ 10-h sleep opportunity/day × 5 days; "forced desynchrony" (FD), recurring 28 h day (circadian disruption) with sleep restriction (~ 5.6-h sleep per 24 h). Fasted plasma P1NP was measured throughout the protocol in nine men (20-59 years old). We tested the hypothesis that PINP would steadily decline across the FD intervention because the magnitude of sleep loss and circadian misalignment accrued as the protocol progressed. A piecewise linear regression model was used to estimate the slope (β) as ΔP1NP per 24 h with a change point mid-protocol to estimate the initial vs. prolonged effects of FD exposure.

RESULTS

Plasma P1NP levels declined significantly within the first 10 days of FD ([Formula: see text] = - 1.33 μg/L per 24 h, p < 0.0001) and remained lower than baseline with prolonged exposure out to 3 weeks ([Formula: see text] = - 0.18 μg/L per 24 h, p = 0.67). As previously reported, levels of a bone resorption marker (C-telopeptide (CTX)) were unchanged.

CONCLUSION

Sleep restriction with concurrent circadian disruption induced a relatively rapid decline in P1NP (despite no change in CTX) and levels remained lower with ongoing exposure. These data suggest (1) even brief sleep restriction and circadian disruption can adversely affect bone metabolism, and (2) there is no P1NP recovery with ongoing exposure that, taken together, could lead to lower bone density over time.

Night shift work and osteoporosis: evidence and hypothesis

Osteoporosis is an important public health problem worldwide. Among the countries with a very high population risk of fractures, there are those with the highest level of economic development. Osteoporotic fractures are the main cause of disability among elderly people, and the resultant disabilities require particularly large financial support associated not only with the direct treatment of the fracture but also with the necessity for long-term rehabilitation and care for the disabled person. Many well-established factors can have impact on bone mass and fracture risk. Recently, it has been hypothesized that working during nighttime which leads to endocrine disorders may have an indirect impact on bone physiology among night shift workers. Therefore, it can be presumed that the night shift work may contribute to the etiology of osteoporosis. The aim of our work was to make a review of the epidemiological evidence on the association between night shift work and bone mineral density or fracture risk as well as to discuss the potential biological mechanisms linking the work under this system with the development of osteoporosis. We have identified only four studies investigating the association between system of work and bone mineral density or fracture risk among workers. The findings of three out of four studies support the hypothesis. None of the studies has investigated a potential relationship between night shift work and bone turnover markers. Given that there have been no epidemiological studies in European countries that would concern working populations and the noticeable difference in the risk of osteoporosis between communities, further studies are warranted to elucidate the problem. It is presumed that further in-depth studies will not only identify the underlying factors of the disease but also contribute to developing guidelines for policy makers and employers for primary prevention of osteoporosis in workplace.

The importance of the circadian system & sleep for bone health

Adequate sleep timed appropriately during the circadian night is important for numerous biological processes and systems. New evidence suggests that both sleep timing and duration may be important for optimal bone health as well. This review examines the diurnal variation of bone turnover markers (BTMs) and the importance of circadian clock genes in regulating bone mass. In addition, this review explores the evidence for a link between shift work (and its associated disturbances in sleep duration/quality and circadian alignment) and alterations in bone metabolism and bone health. Finally, we review how commonly used medications and over-the-counter substances (e.g. caffeine, melatonin) complicate the relationship between sleep and circadian disorders and bone health.