Shift Work and Serum Vitamin D Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Margherita Martelli, Gianmaria Salvio, Lory Santarelli and Massimo Bracci
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Margherita Martelli: Occupational Health, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
Gianmaria Salvio: Endocrinology Clinic, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
Lory Santarelli: Occupational Health, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
Massimo Bracci: Occupational Health, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 15, 1-15

Abstract: Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency are highly prevalent conditions worldwide due to several factors, including poor sun exposure. Shift workers may be exposed to the risk of hypovitaminosis D due to fewer opportunities for sunlight exposure compared to day workers. A systematic review of the PubMed, SCOPUS, and EMBASE databases was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement to investigate the effect of shift work on vitamin D levels. Mean differences (MD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of serum 25-OH-D levels in shift workers and non-shift workers were calculated. A total of 13 cross-sectional studies were included in the meta-analysis. We found significantly lower levels of serum 25-OH-D in shift workers compared with non-shift workers (MD: −1.85, 95% CI [−2.49 to −1.21]). Heterogeneity among included studies was high (I 2 = 89%, p < 0.0001), and neither subgroup analysis nor meta-regression were able to identify specific sources of the heterogeneity that may be related to the different characteristics of shift work among studies. The monitoring of serum vitamin D levels and prompt correction of any deficiencies should be considered in shift workers. Notably, since a large part of the observations are derived from Koreans, larger epidemiological studies are needed in other populations.

Keywords: vitamin D; shift work; night work; circadian rhythm; workers; job (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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