The direction of shift-work rotation impacts metabolic risk independent of chronotype and social jetlag – An exploratory pilot study

Fasting glucose and HOMA index were significantly lower in workers on a fast clockwise rotation compared to day and slow counterclockwise rotations.

• The study involved male steel workers with a mean age of 43.3 years and at least 5 years of experience in their current shift schedule.
• Blood samples were analyzed for various metabolic markers, including glucose, insulin, lipoproteins, cholesterol, triglycerides, and inflammatory markers.
• No significant associations were found between chronotype or social jetlag and metabolic risk blood markers.
• There were no significant differences in several metabolic markers among the three work groups, although absolute differences were noted.
• The lower fasting glucose and HOMA index in fast clockwise rotation workers suggests a potential reduced metabolic risk, though reasons for this finding are unclear.

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