Manoela Neves da Jornada

Correlation of shift work and waist circumference, body mass index, chronotype and depressive symptoms

OBJECTIVE Correlate shift work with body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, chronotype and depressive symptoms. SUBJECTS AND METHODS This study comprising 14 shift workers and 13 day workers. Subjects were workers from the health area aged 25 to 60 years. Minor psychiatric disorders were accessed by Self Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20) and depressive symptoms by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Chronotype was accessed using Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ). Anthropometric measures were taken. RESULTS Shift workers presented higher BMI (P = 0.03) and waist circumference (P = 0.004) than day workers. Years on shift work were significantly correlated to waist circumference (r = 0.43; P = 0.03) and age (r = 0.47; P = 0.02). Shift work was not correlated with depressive symptoms and chronotype. CONCLUSION These results may suggest a role played by shift work on the development and/or the early clinic manifestations of metabolic disturbances, becoming a risk factor to metabolic syndrome.

Fasting ghrelin but not PYY(3-36) is associated with insulin-resistance independently of body weight in Wistar rats

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between insulin-resistance and fasting levels of ghrelin and PYY in Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 25 male Wistar rats, weighing 200-300 g, was included in this study. The animals were maintained in cages with a 12/12h light-dark cycle and fed standard chow and water ad libitum. After 12-h overnight fasting, ghrelin, PYY, insulin and glucose values were determined. Insulin resistance was assessed by means of the HOMA-IR, which was ranked and the median was used as a cut-off value to categorize insulin-resistance. HOMA-IR values equal and above 2.62 were considered insulin-resistant (IR) while values below 2.62 were considered insulin sensitive (IS). Differences between means were determined using the Student t-test. Multiple regression and Pearsons correlation test were used to evaluate the association between variables. RESULTS HOMA-IR median IQ range values for IS and IR groups were, respectively, 1.56 (0.89 - 2.16) vs. [4.06 (3.50 - 4.61); p < 0.001]. The IR group presented increased levels of fasting ghrelin, PYY and insulin respectively: [50.35 (25.99 - 74.71) pg/mL vs. 12.33 (8.77 - 15.89) pg/mL; p = 0.001]; [54.38 (37.50 - 71.26) pg/mL vs. 33.17 (22.34 - 43.99) pg/mL; p = 0.016]; [18.04 (14.48 - 21.60) uU/mL vs. 7.09 (4.83 - 9.35) uU/mL; p = 0.001]. Ghrelin, but not PYY, correlated linearly and positively with HOMA-IR: ghrelin vs. HOMA-IR (r = 0.52; p = 0.008), and PYY vs. HOMA-IR (r = 0.22; p = 0.200). This correlation was independent of body weight. CONCLUSION Fasting ghrelin and PYY serum levels are increased in lean, relatively insulin resistant Wistar rats, and this increase is independent of weight.