RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Impact of Shift Work on Glucose and Lipid Metabolism of Hospital Workers

This study aims to understand how working night shifts affects the health of hospital workers. It's comparing staff who regularly work nights with those who work only day shifts. Researchers are interested in how night shifts might affect things like blood sugar levels, fats in the blood, and general well-being. They'll be looking at daily rhythms, diet, and sleep quality to see if there are any connections between night work and certain health risks. The goal is to provide clearer information about the impact of shift work on hospital staff's health, helping us better understand and support their well-being.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

Olga Ramich (formerly Pivovarova)

Enrolment target

Start

01 Jun 2026

Estimated completion

01 Jan 2028

Chronodisruption Shift Work Disorder Glucose and Lipid Metabolism

What is this study about?

Imagine you work in a hospital, and sometimes your shifts are at night. Have you ever wondered how that might affect your health? This study is designed to answer just that. It's a research project looking into how working night shifts might impact important processes in your body, like how your body handles sugar and fats. We know that our bodies have natural cycles, called circadian rhythms, that guide things like when we feel sleepy or hungry. Night shifts can disrupt these rhythms, and scientists want to understand the health consequences.

This research will involve comparing two groups of hospital staff: one group that regularly works night shifts and another group that only works day shifts. By looking at things like their daily activity, what they eat, their sleep patterns, and taking some blood samples, the researchers hope to identify any differences between these groups. They are particularly interested in understanding if night shift work is linked to changes in blood sugar and fat levels, and how this might relate to a person's overall risk of certain health conditions.

The findings from this study could be really important. They could help us better understand the specific health challenges that hospital staff who work night shifts might face. This knowledge could then lead to better ways to support these workers, perhaps through improved scheduling, dietary advice, or other strategies, to help them stay as healthy as possible while doing their vital work.

Key takeaways

This study investigates how night shifts affect the health of hospital workers.
It compares day shift workers with night shift workers.
Researchers will look at blood sugar, fat levels, activity, diet, and sleep.
Participation involves a couple of visits, tracking diet, and wearing monitoring devices for two weeks.
The results could help improve support for hospital staff who work night shifts.

Who may be eligible?

To join this study, you need to be a hospital employee between 18 and 67 years old, male or female, and working at least 28 hours a week. Your Body Mass Index (BMI) should be under 40. For those working night shifts, you must have been doing so for over a year and be scheduled for at least two night shifts during the two-week study period. If you don't work night shifts, you must not have worked any for over a year.

There are also some reasons why you wouldn't be able to join. For example, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you follow special diets like intermittent fasting. Anyone with serious health problems like type 1 diabetes, severe kidney or liver disease, certain heart problems, or cancer within the last two years cannot participate. If you've had major stomach surgery for weight loss, have blood clotting issues, or severe mental health conditions, you also can't take part.

Also, you shouldn't have travelled to a different time zone (with a two-hour or more difference) a month before or during the study. If you're on certain medications that might affect the results, or if you're already in another study, you might not be eligible. You also need to be able to understand and follow instructions and have health insurance.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 18 and 67 years old?
Do you work at least 28 hours a week at a hospital?
Is your BMI less than 40?
Are you, or have you been, pregnant or breastfeeding?
Do you have any serious chronic illnesses like Type 1 diabetes or recent heart attack?
Have you travelled across time zones (2+ hours difference) recently?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, the study will involve a few steps. First, there's a quick check to make sure you're suitable for the study. Then, you'll have a first visit, which will happen after you've worked at least two day shifts (if you're in the day shift group, or before your night shifts start for the night shift group). During this visit, your height and weight will be measured, and you'll give blood and hair samples. You'll also fill out some questionnaires about your health and lifestyle.

After this first visit, you'll enter a two-week period where you'll wear devices that measure your activity and blood sugar levels throughout the day and night. You'll also be asked to keep a record of what you eat. If you're in the night shift group, you'll have a second visit after your two-week period, specifically after you've worked at least two night shifts. During this second visit, you'll again provide blood and hair samples.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study could help us learn more about the health effects of shift work, which might benefit other hospital staff in the future. As with any study involving blood tests, there's a small risk of discomfort or bruising from the blood samples. You can stop participating at any time during the study without giving a reason, and it won't affect your medical care or employment.

Locations (2)

Charité-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (CCM/CVK)
Verified postcode
Berlin, Germany· Recruiting
Pflegebereiche CC07 Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin Campus Virchow-Klinikum
Verified postcode
Berlin, Germany· Recruiting

Common questions

What is 'chronodisruption'?

Chronodisruption means your body's natural 24-hour clock (called your circadian rhythm) is out of sync, often because of things like irregular sleep patterns, such as those caused by night shifts.

What are 'glucose and lipid metabolism'?

This refers to how your body processes sugars (glucose) for energy and how it handles fats (lipids). These are important for your overall health.

Will I have to take any new medicines?

No, this study does not involve taking any new medications. It's an observational study, which means researchers are watching and measuring, not changing your treatment.

How long will I be involved in the study?

You'll have an initial visit, followed by a two-week observation period, and then a second visit if you're in the night shift group. The total time will be around a few weeks.

Will my information be kept private?

Yes, all your personal information and health data collected during the study will be kept confidential and private.

How to find out more

Olga Ramich, Prof. Dr.

olga.ramich@dife.de +49 33200 882749 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.