Oxidative DNA damage during sleep periods among nightshift workers
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Oxidative DNA damage may be increased among nightshift workers because of suppression of melatonin, a cellular antioxidant, and/or inflammation related to sleep disruption. However, oxidative DNA damage has received limited attention in previous studies of nightshift work. METHODS: From two previous cross-sectional studies, urine samples collected during a night sleep period for 217 dayshift workers and during day and night sleep (on their first day off) periods for 223 nightshift workers were assayed for 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG), a marker of oxidative DNA damage, using high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. Urinary measures of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s), a marker of circulating melatonin levels, and actigraphy-based sleep quality data were also available. RESULTS: Nightshift workers during their day sleep periods excreted 83% (p=0.2) and 77% (p=0.03) of the 8-OH-dG that dayshift workers and they themselves, respectively, excreted during their night sleep periods. Among nightshift workers, higher aMT6s levels were associated with higher urinary 8-OH-dG levels, and an inverse U-shaped trend was observed between 8-OH-dG levels and sleep efficiency and sleep duration. CONCLUSIONS: Reduced excretion of 8-OH-dG among nightshift workers during day sleep may reflect reduced functioning of DNA repair machinery, which could potentially lead to increased cellular levels of oxidative DNA damage. Melatonin disruption among nightshift workers may be responsible for the observed effect, as melatonin is known to enhance repair of oxidative DNA damage. Quality of sleep may similarly impact DNA repair. Cellular levels of DNA damage will need to be evaluated in future studies to help interpret these findings.
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When melatonin is suppressed, DNA damage may accumulate faster than it can be repaired, potentially contributing to increased cancer risk observed among shift workers.
“Thus, when melatonin is suppressed, naturally occurring DNA damage may accumulate faster than it can be repaired, which may contribute to the increased risk of cancer that has been observed among shift workers [57].”
From Shift Work: Disrupted Circadian Rhythms and Sleep—Implications for Health and Well-being (2017) · cites this paper as [57]
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- Authors
- Bhatti, P., Mirick, D. K., Randolph, T. W., Gong, J., Buchanan, D. T., Zhang, J. (., & Davis, S.
- Affiliations
- Fred Hutch Cancer Center (US)
- Duke University (US)
- University of Washington (US)
- Corresponding author
- Bhatti, Parveen
- ORCID
- Venue
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2016-06-15
- Volume
- 73
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 537-544
- ISSN
- 0007-1072 (ISSN-L)
- 1351-0711
- 1470-7926
- OpenAlex
- W2432819490
- Cited by
- 28
- References
- 45
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 1.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Cancer Institute (R01CA097090, R01CA116400)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Carcinogens and Genotoxicity Assessment
- Keywords
- oxidative DNA damage, night shift work, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, urinary biomarkers, melatonin, 6-sulfatoxymelatonin, sleep disruption, sleep efficiency, sleep duration, DNA repair, shift work
- MeSH terms
- 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine, Adult, Circadian Rhythm, Cross-Sectional Studies, Deoxyguanosine, DNA Damage, Female, Humans, Male, Melatonin, Middle Aged, Oxidation-Reduction, Sleep, Work Schedule Tolerance, Biomarkers, Occupational Exposure, Oxidative Stress, Young Adult
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