Nutritional behavior and associated health risk in shift work: a literature review

Aim: This literature aims to highlight the detrimental effects of shift and night work on human health and well-being. We focus on the interaction between the main factors to which shift and night workers are exposed: disrupted circadian rhythms, unhealthy eating behavior and their correlation with a higher incidence of cardio-metabolic diseases, namely cardiovascular diseases (CVD), hypertension and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Materials and methods: Systematic research was carried out using PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect Database, along with the official websites and government bodies, employing specific keywords and combinations thereof. The selection criteria included articles written in English, available in full-text, with the majority having been published between 2019 and 2022. Results: The alignment between circadian rhythms and healthy eating behavior is a powerful determinant of human health. Dietary habits themselves emerge as a significant factor in the synchronization of the circadian system. Conclusions: Current dietary guidelines need to expand to include not just what to eat but also when and why to effectively prevent obesity and cardio-metabolic diseases. Further research is essential to understand the link between diet timing and our biological clocks, highlighting the importance of timing in dietary recommendations for public health improvement targeting the population of shift workers.