Does working nights make you unhealthy?
Association between night shift work and markers of metabolism, cardiovascular and immune system in a population-based German cohort
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
No increase in CRP (inflammation marker) or WBC counts despite circadian disruption.
Animal studies and prior human research suggested night shifts cause chronic inflammation—this large human study found zero evidence of it.
Practical Takeaways
Women working nights should prioritize HDL-boosting habits: regular aerobic exercise, olive oil, nuts, and avoiding trans fats.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
No increase in CRP (inflammation marker) or WBC counts despite circadian disruption.
Animal studies and prior human research suggested night shifts cause chronic inflammation—this large human study found zero evidence of it.
Practical Takeaways
Women working nights should prioritize HDL-boosting habits: regular aerobic exercise, olive oil, nuts, and avoiding trans fats.
Publication
Journal
GeroScience
Year
2025
Authors
Nora Bittner, Horst-Werner Korf, S. Moebus, Börge Schmidt, Svenja Caspers
Related Content
Claims (5)
People who work nights don’t seem to have worse health markers like weight, blood pressure, or blood sugar compared to similar people who only work days—so night shifts probably don’t mess up your metabolism, heart, or immune system in this group of Germans.
People who used to work nights don’t seem to have more health problems like diabetes or heart disease risks later on than people who never worked nights—even when you account for their age and medicines they take.
Working nights might affect your health differently depending on things like your gender, when you naturally feel awake or sleepy, or how much money you make — but this study didn’t check any of those things, so we can’t fully explain why other studies have found different results.
Working irregular hours or not sleeping well can mess up your body’s internal clock, which in turn hurts your metabolism and liver — making it harder for your body to process food and stay healthy.
Women who work nights might have lower levels of the 'good' cholesterol than women who work during the day, but this doesn’t seem to happen in men—so night shifts might affect women’s cholesterol differently.