Alterations in Pregnenolone and Testosterone Levels in Male Shift Workers

Massimo Bracci, Laura Zingaretti, Margherita Martelli, Raffaella Lazzarini, Gianmaria Salvio, Monica Amati, Marijana Milinkovic, Alfio Ulissi, Anna Rita Medori, Ermanno Vitale, Caterina Ledda and Lory Santarelli
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Massimo Bracci: Occupational Health, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
Laura Zingaretti: Occupational Medicine Unit, Management Staff Department, Marche University Hospital, 60126 Ancona, Italy
Margherita Martelli: Occupational Health, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
Raffaella Lazzarini: 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
Monica Amati: Occupational Health, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
Marijana Milinkovic: Occupational Medicine Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Marche University Hospital, 60126 Ancona, Italy
Alfio Ulissi: Occupational Medicine Unit, Management Staff Department, Marche University Hospital, 60126 Ancona, Italy
Anna Rita Medori: Occupational Medicine Unit, Management Staff Department, Marche University Hospital, 60126 Ancona, Italy
Ermanno Vitale: Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
Caterina Ledda: Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy
Lory Santarelli: Occupational Health, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-12

Abstract: Steroid hormone levels are closely related to the endogenous circadian rhythm induced by sleep–wake and dark–light cycles. Shift work that disrupts the circadian rhythm may influence the levels of steroid hormones. The association between shift work and alterations in female sex steroid hormone levels has been studied, but little is known about testosterone and its precursor pregnenolone levels in male shift workers. The present study investigated serum pregnenolone and testosterone levels in a group of shift and daytime male workers. All participants were sampled at the beginning of the morning shift. Lower levels of serum pregnenolone and total testosterone were found in the shift workers compared to the daytime workers. Variations in pregnenolone levels may have consequences for well-being, and they might produce consequences for the levels of hormones downstream of the steroid hormone cascade, such as testosterone. The low levels of testosterone found in shift workers demonstrate the perturbative effect of shift work on testosterone serum levels, which may be independent and/or related to pregnenolone synthesis.

Keywords: pregnenolone; testosterone; shift worker; night work; night shift work; shift work schedule; workplace; circadian rhythm; biological clocks; chronobiology disorders (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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