Night-shift work and breast and prostate cancer risk: updating the evidence from epidemiological studies

To analyze the association between prostate cancer (PCa) risk and night shift work, chronotype, and sleep duration in the context of a population-based case-control study of incident prostate cancer in Spain, a total of 465 PCa cases and 410 controls were analyzed. Selection criteria were: (i) age 40–80 years, and (ii) residence in the coverage area of the reference hospitals for ≥6 months before recruitment. Exposure variables were: (i) night shift work (permanent or rotating); (ii) chronotype: morning, neither, or evening (Munich ChronoType Questionnaire) and (iii) sleep duration according to the recommendations of the American National Sleep Foundation. PCa aggressiveness was determined according to the International Society of Urology Pathology classification. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated using logistic regression models. Night shift work was associated with PCa, aOR = 1.47 (95% CI 1.02–2.11), especially for rotating night shifts, aOR = 1.73 (95% CI 1.09–2.75). The magnitude of the association between ever night work and PCa was higher in evening subjects with aOR = 3.14 (95% CI 0.91–10.76) than in morning chronotypes with an aOR = 1.25 (95% CI 0.78–2.00). Working night shifts, especially rotating night shifts, could increase PCa risk. This risk may be higher in people with an evening chronotype.

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The Association of Nighttime Fasting Duration and Prostate Cancer Risk: Results from the Multicase-Control (MCC) Study in Spain

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13082662 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (8) ◽

pp. 2662

Author(s):

Anna Palomar-Cros ◽

Ana Espinosa ◽

Kurt Straif ◽

Beatriz Pérez-Gómez ◽

Kyriaki Papantoniou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prostate Cancer ◽

Cancer Risk ◽

Lower Risk ◽

Night Shift ◽

Prostate Cancer Risk ◽

Meal Timing ◽

Risk Of Cancer ◽

Fasting Duration ◽

Population Controls ◽

Reduced Risk

Nighttime fasting has been inconclusively associated with a reduced risk of cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate this association in relation to prostate cancer risk. We examined data from 607 prostate cancer cases and 848 population controls who had never worked in night shift work from the Spanish multicase-control (MCC) study, 2008–2013. Through an interview, we collected circadian information on meal timing at mid-age. We estimated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) with unconditional logistic regression. After controlling for time of breakfast, fasting for more than 11 h overnight (the median duration among controls) was associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer compared to those fasting for 11 h or less (OR = 0.77, 95% 0.54–1.07). Combining a long nighttime fasting and an early breakfast was associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer compared to a short nighttime fasting and a late breakfast (OR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.27–1.04). This study suggests that a prolonged nighttime fasting duration and an early breakfast may be associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer. Findings should be interpreted cautiously and add to growing evidence on the importance of chrononutrition in relation to cancer risk.

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