Gastrointestinal Symptoms and the Assessment of Diet in Shift Workers: A Systematic Scoping Review.

Background: Shift work is essential in the modern economy. However, it has been associated with adverse health outcomes, including gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. This systematic scoping review aimed to identify current evidence on GI symptoms and dietary intake and behaviours among shift-working populations.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted in March 2024 across five databases (MEDLINE Ovid, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, clinical trial registers and pre-print) using the Population, Context, and Concept (PCC) framework. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data. Study characteristics were summarised using narrative and quantitative synthesis approaches.

Results: Forty-one articles met the inclusion criteria; 87.8% (n = 36) articles were cross-sectional. Most articles focused on nurses (n = 27, 65.9%), with night and rotating shifts being the most examined shift schedules. Articles reported on general GI symptoms (n = 8, 19.5%), Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) (n = 3, 7.3%), and constipation (n = 3, 7.3%), with most showing positive associations between GI symptoms and shift work. A range of self-reporting tools were used to assess GI symptoms (n = 23) and dietary intake (n = 9). Only 12 articles (29.3%) assessed dietary behaviours, all of which relied on self-reported measures, with limited detail on the timing of meals, and fluid or fibre intake.

Conclusion: This review found that research on GI symptoms and the assessment of dietary intake and behaviours in shift workers is limited and inconsistent. Research is needed to better assess GI symptoms, and time-specific dietary assessment tools.