Korean J Occup Environ Med.  2012 Sep;24(3):274-286.

The Association between Shift Work and Bone Mineral Density : analysis of 2008-2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

• Wang JH
• Lee G
• Song JT
• Kwon J
• Choi H
• Jung-Choi
• Lim S

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study were to explore the association between shift work and the bone mineral density in a representative sample of Korean workers.
METHODS
He data from the Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2008-2009) was used. The participants were Korean workers aged 16 to 60 years. Logistic regression analysis was applied to determine the association between shift work and the bone mineral density after controlling for covariates using the SAS version 9.3 package program.
RESULTS
The blood vitamin D level in shift workers was significantly lower than that of day workers in both males and females. In male shift workers, shift work was significantly associated with a decreased bone mineral density in the femoral neck (odds ratio(OR) 1.42, 95% confidence interval(CI)=1.05~1.92) and lumbar spine (OR 1.53, 95% CI=1.09~2.15) compared to day workers. After controlling for covariates, this association was still significant. In the case of female shift workers, shift work was significantly related to a decreased bone mineral density in the total femur (OR 2.84, 95% CI=1.69~4.79) and lumbar spine (OR 1.58, 95% CI=1.12~2.24). After controlling for covariates, this risk was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSIONS
The blood vitamin D level of shift workers was significantly lower than that of day workers. In male shift workers, shift work can decrease the bone mineral density in the femoral neck and lumbar spine. Prospective studies with information on the shift work intensity and duration and exposuredata to explain mechanisms will be needed.

Keyword

Shift work; Work schedule tolerance; Bone density; Vitamin D

MeSH Terms

Aged
Bone Density
Female
Femur
Femur Neck
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Nutrition Surveys
Phenothiazines
Spine
Vitamin D
Work Schedule Tolerance
Phenothiazines
Vitamin D

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Flow diagram of study population.

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