Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Circadian melatonin profiles during single 24-h shifts in anesthetists

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Sleep and Breathing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

It has been shown that shift work constitutes a great health hazard, particularly when chronodisruption is involved. Anesthetists are used to working for a certain number of 24-h shifts every month. The work-related lack of sleep in combination with light exposure is suspected to alter melatonin courses. The main aim of the present study was to analyze circadian melatonin profiles before, during, and after a 24-h shift in anesthetists and medical students (controls). Furthermore, we evaluated possible differences in melatonin profiles between the groups. Interactions between specific parameters were calculated.

Methods

Over three consecutive days, including a 24-h shift, urine samples were collected daily at five time points. 6-Sulfateoxymelatonin (aMT6-s) courses were assayed using a commercially available competitive immunoassay kit.

Results

Ten anesthetists aged between 29 and 35 years and ten medical students aged between 25 and 31 years were included in the study. aMT6-s fluctuated between nocturnal values of (mean [range]) 2.2 (1.4; 3.0) pg/ml and morning values of 25.5 (12.1; 39.0) pg/ml. A marked circadian rhythm of aMT6-s courses was observed in both groups. Analyses of variance showed an effect of the factor “time” on aMT6-s concentrations but not of the factor “anesthetists versus students”. Correlations between aMT6-s, the amount of sleep, and the time since the last extended duration shift could be found.

Conclusions

The results show no evidence for a single 24-h shift having a great impact on circadian disruption as evidenced by a similar melatonin profile for both groups over the study phase.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rajaratnam SM, Arendt J (2001) Health in a 24-h society. Lancet 358:999–1005

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Winslow ER, Bowman MC, Klingensmith ME (2004) Surgeon workhours in the era of limited resident workhours. J Am Coll Surg 198:111–117

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Howard SK, Gaba DM, Rosekind MR, Zarcone VP (2002) The risks and implications of excessive daytime sleepiness in resident physicians. Acad Med 77:1019–1025

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Kuhn G (2001) Circadian rhythm, shift work, and emergency medicine. Ann Emerg Med 37:88–98

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Lindfors PM, Nurmi KE, Meretoja OA, Luukkonen RA, Viljanen AM, Leino TJ, Harma MI (2006) On-call stress among Finnish anaesthetists. Anaesthesia 61:856–866

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Lubin A, Hord DJ, Tracy ML, Johnson LC (1976) Effects of exercise, bedrest and napping on performance decrement during 40 hours. Psychophysiology 13:334–339

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Knutsson A (2003) Health disorders of shift workers. Occup Med (Lond) 53:103–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Megdal SP, Kroenke CH, Laden F, Pukkala E, Schernhammer ES (2005) Night work and breast cancer risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Cancer 41:2023–2032

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Barger LK, Ayas NT, Cade BE, Cronin JW, Rosner B, Speizer FE, Czeisler CA (2006) Impact of extended-duration shifts on medical errors, adverse events, and attentional failures. PLoS Med 3:e487

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Karanovic N, Carev M, Kardum G, Pecotic R, Valic M, Karanovic S, Ujevic A, Dogas Z (2009) The impact of a single 24 h working day on cognitive and psychomotor performance in staff anaesthesiologists. Eur J Anaesthesiol 26:825–832

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Mitler MM, Carskadon MA, Czeisler CA, Dement WC, Dinges DF, Graeber RC (1988) Catastrophes, sleep, and public policy: consensus report. Sleep 11:100–109

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Lamond N, Dorrian J, Roach GD, McCulloch K, Holmes AL, Burgess HJ, Fletcher A, Dawson D (2003) The impact of a week of simulated night work on sleep, circadian phase, and performance. Occup Environ Med 60:e13

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Folkard S (2008) Do permanent night workers show circadian adjustment? A review based on the endogenous melatonin rhythm. Chronobiol Int 25:215–224

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Wever RA (1979) Influence of physical workload on freerunning circadian rhythms of man. Pflugers Arch 381:119–126

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Erren TC, Reiter RJ (2009) Defining chronodisruption. J Pineal Res 46:245–247

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Kecklund G, Akerstedt T (1995) Effects of timing of shifts on sleepiness and sleep duration. J Sleep Res 4:47–50

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Akerstedt T (1988) Sleepiness as a consequence of shift work. Sleep 11:17–34

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Folkard S, Monk TH, Lobban MC (1978) Short and long-term adjustment of circadian rhythms in 'permanent' night nurses. Ergonomics 21:785–799

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Navara KJ, Nelson RJ (2007) The dark side of light at night: physiological, epidemiological, and ecological consequences. J Pineal Res 43:215–224

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Lederer W, Kopp M, Hahn O, Kurzthaler I, Traweger C, Kinzl J, Benzer A (2006) Post-duty psychomotor performance in young and senior anaesthetists. Eur J Anaesthesiol 23:251–256

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Weitzman ED, Weinberg U, D'Eletto R, Lynch H, Wurtman RJ, Czeisler C, Erlich S (1978) Studies of the 24 hour rhythm of melatonin in man. J Neural Transm Suppl 325–337

  22. Morris M, Lack L, Barrett J (1990) The effect of sleep/wake state on nocturnal melatonin excretion. J Pineal Res 9:133–138

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Baker FC (2007) Circadian rhythms, sleep, and the menstrual cycle

  24. Johns MW (1991) A new method for measuring daytime sleepiness: the Epworth sleepiness scale. Sleep 14:540–545

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Mirick DK, Davis S (2008) Melatonin as a biomarker of circadian dysregulation. Cancer Epidemol Biomark Prev 17:3306–3313

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Bühlmann Laboratoires AG (2009) Melatonin RIA. http://www.buhlmannlabs.ch/files/documents/core/Chronobiology/ifu/EK-M6S_IFU%20CE1.pdf. Accessed 10 May 2010

  27. Kennaway DJ, Lushington K, Dawson D, Lack L, van den HC, Rogers N (1999) Urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion and aging: new results and a critical review of the literature. J Pineal Res 27:210–220

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Yoon IY, Kripke DF, Elliott JA, Youngstedt SD, Rex KM, Hauger RL (2003) Age-related changes of circadian rhythms and sleep-wake cycles. J Am Geriatr Soc 51:1085–1091

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Wetterberg L, Bergiannaki JD, Paparrigopoulos T, von Knorring L, Eberhard G, Bratlid T, Yuwiler A (1999) Normative melatonin excretion: a multinational study. Psychoneuroendocrinology 24:209–226

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Zeitzer JM, Duffy JF, Lockley SW, Dijk DJ, Czeisler CA (2007) Plasma melatonin rhythms in young and older humans during sleep, sleep deprivation, and wake. Sleep 30:1437–1443

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Reilly T, Waterhouse J, Atkinson G (1997) Aging, rhythms of physical performance, and adjustment to changes in the sleep-activity cycle. Occup Environ Med 54:812–816

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Pandi-Perumal SR, Seils LK, Kayumov L, Ralph MR, Lowe A, Moller H, Swaab DF (2002) Senescence, sleep, and circadian rhythms. Ageing Res Rev 1:559–604

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Vijayasarathy K, Shanthi NK and Sastry BK (2009) Melatonin metabolite 6-Sulfatoxymelatonin, Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, oxidized LDL and malondialdehyde in unstable angina. Int J Cardiol (in press)

  34. Pandi-Perumal SR, Srinivasan V, Maestroni GJ, Cardinali DP, Poeggeler B, Hardeland R (2006) Melatonin: nature's most versatile biological signal? FEBS J 273:2813–2838

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Hoffmann G, Gufler V, Griesmacher A, Bartenbach C, Canazei M, Staggl S, Schobersberger W (2008) Effects of variable lighting intensities and colour temperatures on sulphatoxymelatonin and subjective mood in an experimental office workplace. Appl Ergon 39:719–728

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Lockley SW, Brainard GC, Czeisler CA (2003) High sensitivity of the human circadian melatonin rhythm to resetting by short wavelength light. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 88:4502–4505

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Brainard GC, Hanifin JP, Greeson JM, Byrne B, Glickman G, Gerner E, Rollag MD (2001) Action spectrum for melatonin regulation in humans: evidence for a novel circadian photoreceptor. J Neurosci 21:6405–6412

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Hoffmann G, Leichtfried V, Griesmacher A, Bartenbach C, Canazei M, Staggl S, Schobersberger W (2008) Effects of light with reduced short wavelength components on parameters of circadian rhythm and performance in an experimental night shift model. Open Physiol J 1:34–43

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Kayumov L, Casper RF, Hawa RJ, Perelman B, Chung SA, Sokalsky S, Shapiro CM (2005) Blocking low-wavelength light prevents nocturnal melatonin suppression with no adverse effect on performance during simulated shift work. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 90:2755–2761

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Brainard GC, Lewy AJ, Menaker M, Fredrickson RH, Miller LS, Weleber RG, Cassone V, Hudson D (1988) Dose-response relationship between light irradiance and the suppression of plasma melatonin in human volunteers. Brain Res 454:212–218

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Zeitzer JM, Dijk DJ, Kronauer R, Brown E, Czeisler C (2000) Sensitivity of the human circadian pacemaker to nocturnal light: melatonin phase resetting and suppression. J Physiol 526(Pt 3):695–702

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. McIntyre IM, Norman TR, Burrows GD, Armstrong SM (1989) Human melatonin suppression by light is intensity dependent. J Pineal Res 6:149–156

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Bühlmann Laboratoires AG (2009) Sulfateoxymelatonin. http://buhlmannlabs.ch/core/chronobiology/sulfatoxy-melatonin/. Accessed 15 Jan 2010

  44. Hawton K, Clements A, Sakarovitch C, Simkin S, Deeks JJ (2001) Suicide in doctors: a study of risk according to gender, seniority and specialty in medical practitioners in England and Wales, 1979-1995. J Epidemiol Community Health 55:296–300

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Srinivasan V, Pandi-Perumal SR, Trakht I, Spence DW, Hardeland R, Poeggeler B, Cardinali DP (2009) Pathophysiology of depression: role of sleep and the melatonergic system. Psychiatry Res 165:201–214

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Long MA, Jutras MJ, Connors BW, Burwell RD (2005) Electrical synapses coordinate activity in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. Nat Neurosci 8:61–66

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  47. Grundy A, Sanchez M, Richardson H, Tranmer J, Borugian M, Graham CH, Aronson KJ (2009) Light intensity exposure, sleep duration, physical activity, and biomarkers of melatonin among rotating shift nurses. Chronobiol Int 26:1443–1461

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  48. Takeyama H, Kubo T, Itani T (2005) The nighttime nap strategies for improving night shift work in workplace. Ind Health 43:24–29

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Arendt J (2006) Melatonin and human rhythms. Chronobiol Int 23:21–37

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We kindly acknowledge the inspiring discussions with Dipl. Stat. Raffaella Matteucci-Gothe, who provided support in the statistical analysis. The authors wish to thank Dr. Hammerer-Lercher for the excellent assistance in measuring the melatonin profiles.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Sports Medicine, Alpine Medicine and Health Tourism, University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Eduard-Wallnöfer-Zentrum 1, 6060, Hall in Tirol, Austria

    Veronika Leichtfried & Wolfgang Schobersberger

  2. University Hospital for Anaesthesia and General Intensive Care, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria

    Gabriel Putzer, Dieter Perkhofer & Arnulf Benzer

Authors
  1. Veronika Leichtfried
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gabriel Putzer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Dieter Perkhofer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Wolfgang Schobersberger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Arnulf Benzer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Veronika Leichtfried.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Leichtfried, V., Putzer, G., Perkhofer, D. et al. Circadian melatonin profiles during single 24-h shifts in anesthetists. Sleep Breath 15, 503–512 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-010-0371-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-010-0371-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation