Circadian misalignment increases cardiovascular disease risk factors in humans

Shift work is a risk factor for hypertension, inflammation, and cardiovascular disease. This increased risk cannot be fully explained by classic risk factors. One of the key features of shift workers is that their behavioral and environmental cycles are typically misaligned relative to their endogenous circadian system. However, there is little information on the impact of acute circadian misalignment on cardiovascular disease risk in humans. Here we show-by using two 8-d laboratory protocols-that short-term circadian misalignment (12-h inverted behavioral and environmental cycles for three days) adversely affects cardiovascular risk factors in healthy adults. Circadian misalignment increased 24-h systolic…

• NA
  National Aeronautics and Space Administration

  Award: NCC 9-58
• BA
  Brigham and Women's Hospital

  Award: UL1RR025758
• HU
  Harvard University

  Award: UL1RR025758
• NS
  National Space Biomedical Research Institute

  Awards: P01AG009975, NCC 9-58
• NH
  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

  Awards: R01 HL118601, R01 HL094806, UL1RR025758
• NI
  National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

  Awards: DK099512, R01 DK099512
• NC
  National Center for Research Resources

  Award: UL1RR025758