| Title: | Accelerometer-measured physical activity, Mediterranean diet and premature mortality and life expectancy among night shift workers: a UK Biobank longitudinal study |
| Journal: | Journal of Nutrition |
| Published: | 28 Apr 2026 |
| Pubmed: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42061717/ |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101558 |
Publication 17811
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Night shifts work is associated with circadian disruption and elevated premature mortality risk. Although physical activity (PA) and healthy diets like the Mediterranean diet (MED) promote longevity, their combined association with mortality and life expectancy in night shift workers is unclear.</p>
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the individual and joint effects of accelerometer-measured moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and adherence to the alternate MED (AMED) score on these outcomes.</p>
METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 12,044 night shift workers from the UK Biobank. MVPA was categorized per WHO (World Health Organization) guidelines (low: <150, medium: 150-300, high: ≥300 min/week). AMED score (0-9) was derived from a 24-hour dietary recall and categorized into tertiles. Multivariable Cox regression and life table methods assessed hazard ratios (HR) for premature mortality and life expectancy.</p>
RESULTS: Over a median 12.72-year follow-up, 204 premature deaths occurred. Higher MVPA (hazard ratios (HR): 0.677; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.473-0.970) and higher AMED score (HR: 0.617; 95% CI: 0.384-0.991) were independently associated with lower mortality risk. Life expectancy gains were sex-specific: higher MVPA was primary in men (gain of 4.90 years; 95% CI: 0.77-9.02), while a higher AMED score was primary in women (gain of 7.64 years; 95% CI: 0.61-13.56). The combination of medium MVPA and high AMED score showed the strongest protective effect (HR: 0.385; 95% CI: 0.161-0.919).</p>
CONCLUSIONS: Among night shift workers, higher levels of MVPA and a Mediterranean-style diet are associated with a reduced risk of premature death, with the primary protective lifestyle factor differing by sex. An integrated strategy combining medium MVPA with high dietary quality may be optimal for reducing mortality in this high-risk group, supporting precision health interventions.</p>
8 Authors
- Jiaxu Xu
- Zhuo Chen
- Fengru Niu
- Yunyan Chen
- Xinyi Sun
- Wei Wei
- Zhen Tian
- Changhao Sun
1 Application
| Application ID | Title |
|---|---|
| 103547 | The health impacts of lifestyle and environmental factors exposed at different life stages on aging and non-communicable chronic diseases |
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