Night shifts may disrupt your metabolism and sleep, new study finds
NCT ID NCT05177965
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This completed observational study looked at 72 men and women aged 20-50 who work rotating night and day shifts. Researchers measured blood sugar, weight, sleep patterns, and other health markers to understand how short-term circadian misalignment from shift work affects the body. The goal is to gather insights that could lead to better health recommendations for shift workers.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this study could help explain why shift work is linked to metabolic problems, pointing toward better health advice or interventions for shift workers.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, exploratory observational study, not a clinical trial testing a treatment. It can show associations but cannot prove cause and effect, and results may not apply to all shift workers.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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72 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Feb 2022
- Finished
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Aug 2024
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Shift workers
- Ages
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20 to 50 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Men and women * Age 20-50 years * Working ≥ 80% full-time equivalent over the previous month and during the study * Working night shifts (i.e. shifts that comprise working hours between 23h and 06h) in rotation with day shifts (i.e. shifts that comprise working hours between 06h and 20h) * Planned to work at least 3 consecutive night shifts during the study preceded by at least a day off or day shift * Planned to work at least 3 consecutive day shifts during the study * Confident use of a smartphone compatible with the study application (iOS, Android) and able to regularly take pictures of consumed food/drinks * Able to give a fully informed consent and follow the study procedures Exclusion Criteria: * Planned or current pregnancy during the study * Menopausal women * Major illness or hospitalization over the previous month * Carries a pacemaker, pump or other medical device that can be disabled by a magnet * Major mental illness * Trip to a different time zone (≥ 2-hour time difference) over the previous month or planned during the study * Enrolled in an interventional clinical trial (potentially interfering with the main outcomes) over the previous month or planned during the study
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Geneva University Hospitals
Geneva, 1211, Switzerland
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.