An estimated 15 million Americans work night shifts regularly, facing compounded health risks from circadian rhythm disruption. A new preliminary study offers insight into how these occupational hazards might be mitigated through targeted supplementation.
Researchers found that melatonin supplementation may restore approximately 23 percent of the DNA repair capacity lost during shift work. The study measured cellular repair efficiency across three groups: day workers at 100 percent baseline capacity, untreated night workers at 62 percent, and night workers receiving melatonin at 85 percent. These findings suggest that the hormone’s antioxidant and enzymatic regulatory properties could help counteract the cellular damage accumulation associated with overnight work schedules.
The World Health Organization has classified shift work involving circadian disruption as a probable carcinogen, making interventions that protect DNA repair processes particularly relevant to occupational health.
Read the full article on GMJ Newsroom.
Was this article helpful?
