Another Important Reason to Assess Levels of Vitamin D
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among those with diabetes. And, according to researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, people with diabetes and low Vitamin D have more than double the risk of cardiovascular disease. One possible reason (according to the study’s authors) – diabetics who are deficient in vitamin D don’t process cholesterol normally, so it builds up in their blood vessels and increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Why is this important to shift workers? Because some studies have shown that shift workers may have a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes and shift workers are also are at a greater risk of having a vitamin D deficiency. This study may provide more support for why shift workers have a greater likelihood of suffering from cardiovascular disease. And, it also sheds some light on a possible way to reduce the risk of heart disease – besides exercise, good nutrition, and maintaining proper weight, make sure you get enough vitamin D.
In a 2005 study of 2860 men in a factory in Japan, the incidence rate of type 2 diabetes was followed over an eight year period. The study group contained fixed daytime blue-collar workers, shift blue-collar workers, and white-collar workers. Among the 2860 workers, during the eight years, there were 87 cases of new-onset diabetes. The age-adjusted incidence was highest for the two-shift workers and lowest for the white-collar workers. The relative risk for the two-shift workers and the three-shift workers compared with the fixed daytime workers was 1.73 and 1.33, respectively, not too statistically significant. But when the white-collar workers were used as a reference group, a significantly increased risk of diabetes was found for the two-shift workers (relative risk was 2 times greater). But the risk was not higher for the three-shift workers or the fixed daytime blue-collar workers. The study suggests that shift work is a risk factor for diabetes and that there is a different shift schedules cause different levels of risk.
Some studies have found that between 60 and 85% of people are lacking enough vitamin D. Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency can include weak bones resulting in fractures, muscle pain, low energy and fatigue, renal or intestinal problems, depression, mood swings and sleep disorders. Shift workers, especially those working nights and sleeping during the day, often have less access to normal sunlight; a main source of vitamin D. In addition, they themselves indicate that their nutritional habits need improvement. So shift workers should make sure they and their health care provider assess which combination of sun, diet or supplements is the best to maximize their vitamin D intake.
It’s amazing what’s happening inside your body. For example, did you know you have something called macrophage cells? Also called “policing cells,” they live in our body tissue and usually spend most of their time lounging around eating dying cells in our bodies. But every once in a while macrophage cells get a signal telling them that some foreign body is nearby and the “policing cells” get activated. When hyperactivated, these cells can kill tumors and virus infected cells, and help activate immune system cells. The Washington University study authors believe that when diabetic patients also have inadequate vitamin D, macrophages become loaded with cholesterol and eventually stiffen blood vessels and block blood flow.
The researchers explain how this happens like this:
1. Cholesterol is transported through the blood attached to lipoproteins such as LDL, the ‘bad’ cholesterol.
2. Macrophages eat the cholesterol uncontrollably.
3. LDL cholesterol clogs the macrophages.
The process becomes accelerated when a person is deficient in vitamin D. And, people with diabetes are very likely to be vitamin D deficient. Worldwide, approximately one billion people have insufficient vitamin D levels. For women with type 2 diabetes, the likelihood of low vitamin D is about a third higher than in women of the same age who don’t have diabetes.
When macrophages are placed in an environment with plenty of vitamin D, their intake of cholesterol is suppressed, so it doesn’t build up and create a greater risk for heart disease. Everyone, especially shift workers should speak with their medical practitioner about ways to increase their vitamin D levels and about the best ways to prevent diabetes. This is a significant health prevention opportunity for shiftworkers.
Tags: death, diabetes, health care prevention, heart disease, vitamins, Working Nights
