0
0
In a new study published in Diabetologia, Australian researchers have revealed that meal timing may play a crucial role in protecting the health of night shift workers. Conducted by teams from the University of South Australia, the University of Adelaide, and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), the study found that eating during overnight hours may elevate the risk of developing chronic health conditions, particularly those related to glucose metabolism.
The six-day study involved 55 healthy adult participants who do not typically work night shifts. These volunteers stayed at the University of South Australia’s Behavior-Brain-Body Sleep Research Center, where they were divided into three groups with distinct eating patterns: those who fasted at night, those who ate snacks, and those who consumed full meals. All participants stayed awake through the night and slept during the day to simulate a night shift environment. On the sixth day, blood glucose testing provided insights into each eating pattern’s impact on the body.
Professor Leonie Heilbronn from SAHMRI and the University of Adelaide noted that glucose tolerance was significantly worse for participants who ate meals or snacks during the night. “We found that blood glucose skyrocketed for those who ate full meals at night and those who snacked, while the people who fasted at night showed an increase in insulin secretion which kept blood sugar levels balanced,” she explained. This imbalance may contribute to the elevated rates of diabetes, heart disease, and obesity often seen among shift workers.
The study highlighted that all participants experienced disrupted insulin sensitivity, regardless of whether they ate during the night. This outcome supports existing research showing that night shifts cause circadian misalignment, impairing glucose metabolism. As Professor Heilbronn explained, “When you eat a meal, your body secretes insulin, and that insulin helps your muscles and other tissues to take up glucose. If you become resistant to insulin, then you can’t take up that glucose as effectively. If it continues, that potentially puts you at risk of diabetes.”
The research team suggests that a straightforward approach—fasting at night and concentrating food intake during daytime hours—may help shift workers better manage their health. Professor Siobhan Banks, lead investigator from the University of South Australia, emphasized that this shift in eating habits could be an easier intervention for many workers compared to more complex dietary plans.
Future studies are planned to explore whether night shift workers might benefit from consuming only protein-based snacks during nighttime hours to stave off hunger without the associated health risks.
The study, led by Dr. Stephanie Centofanti and her team, adds to the growing body of evidence underscoring the importance of circadian-aligned meal timing in managing metabolic health risks among shift workers.
More Information
Centofanti, S. et al., “Fasting as an intervention to alter the impact of simulated night-shift work on glucose metabolism in healthy adults: a cluster randomised controlled trial,” Diabetologia (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s00125-024-06279-1
