Disrupted diurnal oscillation of gut-derived Short chain fatty acids in shift workers drinking alcohol: Possible mechanism for loss of resiliency of intestinal barrier in disrupted circadian host.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Non-randomized controlled comparative cohort and interventional study
PubMed 32376406 · doi:10.1016/j.trsl.2020.04.004
What was done
Researchers evaluated 24-hour diurnal rhythms of gut-derived plasma short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and colonic permeability across three groups: healthy day workers (DW), night shift workers (NW), and patients with alcohol use disorder without liver disease (AD). Baseline measurements were taken across all groups, and the DW and NW groups subsequently completed a 7-day moderate daily alcohol intervention (0.5 g/kg). Circadian rhythmicity was analyzed using cosinor analysis of plasma SCFAs, wrist actigraphy, plasma melatonin, and urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (6-SM).
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical values, confidence intervals, or p-values. Plasma SCFAs exhibited significant circadian oscillation in healthy day workers by cosinor analysis, but 24-hour rhythmicity was lost in night workers and alcohol use disorder patients. Both chronic alcohol use and 1-week moderate alcohol consumption disrupted circadian parameters based on actigraphy and urinary melatonin. Reductions in SCFAs correlated with increased colonic permeability, and wrist actigraphy and urinary 6-SM correlated with plasma melatonin.
Why it matters
This study suggests that circadian disruption from shift work or alcohol intake impairs normal diurnal oscillations of gut-derived SCFAs, potentially weakening the intestinal barrier. It outlines a mechanistic pathway linking central circadian misalignment to increased gut vulnerability.
Limits
The abstract omits sample sizes (n is not reported for any group), exact numerical results, effect sizes, and demographic details. The 7-day alcohol exposure intervention was non-randomized, and long-term clinical outcomes were not assessed.
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