Lack of sleep in shift based job may cost you bone loss

A shift based job has always been problematic, as when your shift is not fixed you have to compromise your sleep. But now researchers have found that a shift based job or frequent travelling not only restricts on good sleep, but also can be an unrecognized factor for bone loss in young men.

According to the finding, young men suffering with sleep restriction and circadian disruption had reduced levels of P1NP- marker that tells bone formation in blood- compared to 18 per cent in older men.

Circadian disruption was defined as "a mismatch between internal body clock and the environment caused by living on a shorter or longer day than 24 hours." 

While on the other hand, bone resorption marker’s levels- CTX- remained unaltered, giving indication that the old bone could break down without the formation of new bone, researchers told.

"This altered bone balance creates a potential bone loss window that could lead to osteoporosis -- a condition in which bones become weak and brittle and causes fractures," said lead investigator Christine Swanson, Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado in Aurora, US.

"The data suggest that sleep disruption may be most detrimental to bone metabolism earlier in life, when bone growth and accrual are crucial for long-term skeletal health," she added. 

The study was presented at Endocrine Society's 99th annual meeting in Orlando, the team evaluated health consequences of sleep restriction as well as circadian disruption.

Participants stayed in a lab, where for three weeks they went to sleep each day four hours later than the prior day, resulting in a 28-hour "day". 

Only a sleep of 5.6 hours per 24-hour period was allowed to men- similar to those working in night shifts and having jet lag as a result of increased travelling hours.