Aim: Former studies showed correlations between
sleep disturbances and the metabolic
syndrome. Partial or entire sleep deprivation
resulted in studies in higher Leptin and lower
Ghrelin levels and hunger. Leptin and Ghrelin
are important mediators in the energy
homeostasis and they are connected with
the circadian rhythm. They also might be
the link between sleep disturbances, obesity
and insulin resistance. Shift work can lead to
sleep disturbances and sleep deprivation due
to the displaced activity and rest phases. We
tried to examine the influence on Leptin and
Ghrelin levels of shift work and the connection
to metabolic changes.
Group and method: In a clinical trial 362
shift and normal (day) workers were examined
for biometric and biochemical determinations.
Using the institute‘s own questionnaire
and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
(PSQI) we asked among others about sleep
behaviour.
Results: Shift work demonstrates an association
with sleep disturbances (p < 0.001), sleep
related disorders (tiredness during the day
(p < 0.001), depressive mood (p < 0.001), fractiousness
(p < 0.001)) and obesity (p < 0.001).
People with a large waist had higher levels of
Leptin (p = 0.002) and lower levels of Ghrelin
(p < 0.001), but we found no connection between
shift work and the concentrations of
Leptin and Ghrelin. Graduating the collective
into BMI-classification and comparison
with parameters which project the circadian
rhythm (average sleep time, sleep efficiency,
sleep quality, PSQ-Index) showed no link between
chronic sleep deprivation and Leptin
and Ghrelin levels.
Conclusions: Our results indicate compensation
mechanisms taking effect in long-term
sleep disorders but not in near-term sleep
deprivation, reducing the impact of sleep
deficits on Leptin or Ghrelin levels.
