Effects of 3.5-GHz radiofrequency radiation on energy-regulatory hormone levels in the blood and

Bioelectromagnetics · 2024 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 234

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2024

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Effects of 3.5-GHz radiofrequency radiation on energy-regulatory hormone levels in the blood and adipose tissue Bektas H, Dasdag S, Altindag F, Akdag MZ, Yegin K, Algul S. Effects of 3.5-GHz radiofrequency radiation on energy-regulatory hormone levels in the blood and adipose tissue. Bioelectromagnetics 1–9 (2024). doi: 10.1002/bem.22498. Highlights • 3.5 GHz radiofrequency radiation (RFR) may induce alterations in hormones regulating energy metabolism. • 3.5 GHz RFR may lead to alterations in total antioxidant, total oxidant, and hydrogen peroxide levels. • Particularly in conjunction with diabetes, 3.5 GHz RFR may result in adverse effects on energy metabolism. • Although there were changes of the hormone levels in the exposed group, the actual values remained for both sham and exposed groups within the normal range. Abstract In recent years exposure of living beings to radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emitted from wireless equipment has increased. In this study, we investigated the effects of 3.5-GHz RFR on hormones that regulate energy metabolism in the body. Twenty-eight rats were divided into four groups: healthy sham (n = 7), healthy RFR (n = 7), diabetic sham (n = 7), and diabetic RFR (n = 7). Over a month, each group spent 2 h/day in a Plexiglas carousel. The rats in the experimental group were exposed to RFR, but the sham groups were not. At the end of the experiment, blood and adipose tissues were collected from euthanized rats. Total antioxidant, total oxidant, hydrogen peroxide, ghrelin, nesfatin-1, and irisin were determined. Insulin expression in pancreatic tissues was examined by immunohistochemical analysis. Whole body specific absorption rate was 37 mW/kg. For the parameters analyzed in blood and fat, the estimated effect size varied within the ranges of 0.215–0.929 and 0.503–0.839, respectively. The blood and adipose nesfatin-1 (p = 0.002), blood and pancreatic insulin are decreased, (p = 0.001), gherelin (p = 0.020), irisin (p = 0.020), and blood glucose (p = 0.040) are increased in healthy and diabetic rats exposed to RFR. While nesfatin-1 are negatively correlated with oxidative stress, hyperglycemia and insulin, ghrelin and irisin are positively correlated with oxidative stress and hyperglycemia. Thus, RFR may have deleterious effects on energy metabolism, particularly in the presence of diabetes. onlinelibrary.wiley.com

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Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typeanimal

Effect directionharm

PopulationRats (healthy and diabetic)

Sample size28

ExposureRF · 3500 MHz · 0.037 W/kg · 2 h/day for 1 month

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Twenty-eight rats (healthy and diabetic) were exposed to 3.5-GHz RFR (whole-body SAR 37 mW/kg) for 2 h/day over 1 month. Compared with sham, exposed rats showed decreased nesfatin-1 (blood and adipose; p=0.002) and decreased blood and pancreatic insulin (p=0.001), with increased ghrelin (p=0.020), increased irisin (p=0.020), and increased blood glucose (p=0.040); the authors report correlations between these hormones and oxidative stress/hyperglycemia and conclude RFR may have deleterious effects on energy metabolism, particularly with diabetes.

Outcomes measured

Total antioxidant level
Total oxidant level
Hydrogen peroxide level
Ghrelin (blood/adipose)
Nesfatin-1 (blood/adipose)
Irisin (blood/adipose)
Insulin expression in pancreatic tissue (immunohistochemistry)
Blood glucose

Limitations

Only an animal model (rats); human relevance not established in abstract
Small group sizes (n=7 per group)
Exposure characterization limited in abstract (e.g., no field strength details beyond whole-body SAR)
Some statements are correlational (e.g., hormone correlations with oxidative stress/hyperglycemia)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "RF",
    "source": "wireless equipment",
    "frequency_mhz": 3500,
    "sar_wkg": 0.037,
    "duration": "2 h/day for 1 month"
  },
  "population": "Rats (healthy and diabetic)",
  "sample_size": 28,
  "outcomes": [
    "Total antioxidant level",
    "Total oxidant level",
    "Hydrogen peroxide level",
    "Ghrelin (blood/adipose)",
    "Nesfatin-1 (blood/adipose)",
    "Irisin (blood/adipose)",
    "Insulin expression in pancreatic tissue (immunohistochemistry)",
    "Blood glucose"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Twenty-eight rats (healthy and diabetic) were exposed to 3.5-GHz RFR (whole-body SAR 37 mW/kg) for 2 h/day over 1 month. Compared with sham, exposed rats showed decreased nesfatin-1 (blood and adipose; p=0.002) and decreased blood and pancreatic insulin (p=0.001), with increased ghrelin (p=0.020), increased irisin (p=0.020), and increased blood glucose (p=0.040); the authors report correlations between these hormones and oxidative stress/hyperglycemia and conclude RFR may have deleterious effects on energy metabolism, particularly with diabetes.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Only an animal model (rats); human relevance not established in abstract",
    "Small group sizes (n=7 per group)",
    "Exposure characterization limited in abstract (e.g., no field strength details beyond whole-body SAR)",
    "Some statements are correlational (e.g., hormone correlations with oxidative stress/hyperglycemia)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "3.5 GHz",
    "radiofrequency radiation",
    "RFR",
    "SAR",
    "rats",
    "diabetes",
    "energy metabolism",
    "ghrelin",
    "nesfatin-1",
    "irisin",
    "insulin",
    "oxidative stress",
    "blood glucose"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "5g-policy",
      "weight": 0.6,
      "reason": "Study uses 3.5 GHz (a common 5G mid-band frequency) RFR exposure."
    }
  ]
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1002/bem.22498
PubMed: Not supplied

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