Sleeping during the day and working at night is one of the things we fear the most, because changing our routine not only affects our mood and energy, but can also compromise our health at a cellular level. As you read! If you have ever worked at night or stayed up late several times in a row, you have surely noticed the effects the next day, feeling exhausted, disoriented and with the sensation that your body is not working as it should until you get back to bed. Well, a recent study published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine has revealed that melatonin, the sleep hormone, could play a key role in repairing damaged DNA in those who work night shifts!! But what does DNA have to do with poor sleep? We are going to tell you everything that has happened in this clinical trial.
What is melatonin?
It is a hormone produced by our body, especially in the pineal gland, a small structure in the brain. Its main function is to regulate the sleep-wake cycle, telling our body when it is time to sleep and when to wake up.
At night, melatonin production increases, making us feel sleepy. On the contrary, when there is light, production decreases and we stay awake. However, factors such as blue light from screens, stress or night shifts can affect its production, causing insomnia or problems resting well.
Why are night workers at risk?
As we said above, the light cycle influences the production of melatonin in our body, but of course, night workers are exposed to artificial light, so this imbalance directly impacts the body’s ability to repair DNA, which can increase the risk of cellular mutations and, consequently, the development of diseases such as cancer.
How did they come to this conclusion?
The experts gathered 40 night workers (with a minimum of two consecutive night shifts of at least seven hours each night, for at least six months) who had no disorders or chronic diseases in order to analyse their DNA repair capacity. The methodology they followed was the following, they collected urine samples before the shift and after:
- Half of the participants took 3 mg of melatonin before going to sleep during the day.
- The other half received a placebo under the same scheme.
- Levels of 8-OHdG, a biological marker of DNA damage and repair, were measured.
What did the study reveal?
Surprisingly, the analyses showed that workers who took melatonin had 80% more DNA repair activity during daytime sleep compared to those who took the placebo, but no significant differences were detected in DNA repair during their night shifts.
What does this mean?
Quite simply, melatonin could be a good start to mitigate the negative effects on DNA, but there are still many studies to be done to be able to state this with certainty, such as, for example, what is the ideal dose to maximize its protective effect and what are the long-term benefits in cancer prevention (and if it would really work for this)
Can we protect our DNA in any way?
Sure, there are some habits that can make a difference, like trying to always sleep at the same time (even during the day, a nap is not denied to anyone), using thick curtains or eye masks to imitate the darkness of the night. Also, avoid screens before sleeping (because the blue light from our devices reduces the generation of melatonin).
Of course, consult a doctor if you want to take supplements!!
Working at night is not anyone’s dream, of course, but we have to be aware that our health comes first, a very small change can make a big difference!