Association of industrial work schedules with development of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and serum adipokine concentrations

BACKGROUND: Association of work schedule in industrial workers with the progression of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and serum adipokine concentrations is incompletely explored. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of work schedule with the progression of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and adipokine concentrations in industrial workers. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study design of industrial workers we compared metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance, and adipokines concentration between workers in the day shift (n = 52), rotational shift (n = 21), and night shift (n = 15). The international Diabetes Federation criteria were used to diagnose metabolic syndrome. We used a homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Serum insulin, leptin, and adiponectin concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Serum glucose, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations were monitored using Prietest clinical chemistry reagents. RESULTS: The proportional difference in metabolic syndrome (0.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.036–0.587, P = 0.026), median difference of leptin (0.61, 95% CI 0.186–1.034, P = 0.005), and leptin-to-adiponectin ratio (LAR; 0.45, 95% CI 0.235–0.665, P < 0.001) was significantly higher, and serum adiponectin was lower (–2.00, 95% CI −4.197 to 0.197, P = 0.07) in the night-shift workers compared with that of day-shift workers. Among rotational-shift workers, the proportional difference between metabolic syndrome (0.14, 95% CI −0.098 to 0.378, P = 0.25), median difference of leptin (0.25, 95% CI −0.124 to 0.624, P = 0.19), and LAR (0.09, 95% CI −0.099 to 0.279, P = 0.35) was higher, and serum adiponectin concentration was lower (−0.73, 95% CI −2.660 to 1.208, P = 0.46) compared with that of day-shift workers; however, the altered differences were not significant. We observed a higher proportion of difference in HOMA-IR in shift workers (night and rotation) than in day-shift workers. CONCLUSION: Night-shift workers are vulnerable to a higher risk of metabolic syndrome, HOMA-IR, and adipokine changes.