Reduced melatonin synthesis in pregnant night workers: Metabolic implications for offspring

Abstract

Several novel animal studies have shown that intrauterine metabolic programming can be modified in the event of reduced melatonin synthesis during pregnancy, leading to glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in the offspring. It is therefore postulated that female night workers when pregnant may expose the offspring to unwanted health threats. This may be explained by the fact that melatonin is essential for regulating energy metabolism and can influence reproductive activity. Moreover, the circadian misalignment caused by shift work affects fertility and the fetus, increasing the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and low birth weight, phenomena observed in night workers. Thus, we hypothesize that light-induced melatonin suppression as a result of night work may alter intrauterine metabolic programming in pregnant women, potentially leading to metabolic disorders in their offspring.

Maternal Chronodisruption Throughout Pregnancy Impairs Glucose Homeostasis and Adipose Tissue Physiology in the Male Rat Offspring

“…This is consistent with our findings that independent of the diet, animals exposed to chronodisruption during gestation between 100 and 200 days of age are metabolically comparable to those LD animals fed with HFD. A series of cases reported by Nahme et al (44) in 2019 suggest that these findings can be extrapolated to human health. These authors, for the first time, observed a direct relationship between misalignment of the melatonin rhythm during pregnancy and gestational problems together with a low Apgar score in the newborns from these mothers.…”

Disruption of Circadian Rhythms: A Crucial Factor in the Etiology of Infertility

“…Melatonin levels have been identified to be lower in semen samples with low and poor fertilization rates [72] and in women with idiopathic infertility [74]. In stress-induced women, in which melatonin suppression is present, the circadian alteration affects fertility and fetus development, increasing the risk of miscarriage, premature birth and low birth weight [75]. It is also known that light emitted from electronic screen devices suppresses melatonin secretion that is linked with a decline of sperm motility and concentration in men [76].…”

Night shift work surrounding pregnancy and offspring risk of atopic disease

“…Rotating night shift work is known to negatively impact circadian rhythms both in mothers working night shifts as well as in their unborn children [21,22]. It is considered an emerging risk factor for multiple chronic diseases and increased inflammation likely because of stress caused from circadian disruption [23][24][25][26][27][28].…”