Electromagnetic Fields Modify Redox Balance in the Rat Gastrointestinal Tract

2021 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 1037

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2021

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Electromagnetic Fields Modify Redox Balance in the Rat Gastrointestinal Tract Sieroń Karolina, Knapik Katarzyna, Onik Grzegorz, Romuk Ewa, Birkner Ewa, Kwiatek Sebastian, Sieroń Aleksander. Electromagnetic Fields Modify Redox Balance in the Rat Gastrointestinal Tract. Frontiers in Public Health. 9:1283. 2021. DOI:10.3389/fpubh.2021.710484. Abstract Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the influence of electromagnetic fields with divergent physical properties on the prooxidative and antioxidative balances in homogenates of the tongue, salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines of rats. Material and Methods: Forty rats were randomly divided into four equal groups, namely, a control group, a group exposed to low-frequency electromagnetic fields (LF-EMFs; frequency: 50 Hz; intensity: 10 kV/m; magnetic induction: 4.3 pT), a group exposed to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMFs) emitted by mobile phones (frequency: 900 MHz), and a group exposed simultaneously to LF-EMFs and RF-EMFs emitted by mobile phones. After 28 consecutive days of the experiment, the following pro- and antioxidative markers were assessed in the gastrointestinal tract homogenates: superoxide dismutase (SOD) and its two isoenzymes (Mn- SOD, Cu,Zn-SOD) catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S- transferase (GST), total antioxidative capacity (TAC), total oxidative status (TOS), and malondialdehyde (MDA). Results: In rats exposed to LF-EMFs, higher concentrations of the markers of prooxidant processes, MDA or TOS, were observed in the salivary glands, esophagus, and small intestine homogenates in comparison with the control group. Additionally, in the group of rats opposite to the control, antioxidant activity was observed. The main differences included a higher activity of Cu,Zn-SOD in homogenates of the tongue, salivary glands, and esophagus as well as decreased activity of CAT in homogenates of the tongue, esophagus, and small intestine. In animals exposed to RF-EMFs, the concentration of TOS was higher in the large intestine than in control rats. The main difference of antioxidant activity was presented by decreased Cu,Zn-SOD in homogenates of the salivary glands, stomach, small and large intestine as well as CAT in homogenates of the tongue, esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestine. Moreover, in rats exposed simultaneously to LF-EMFs and RF-EMFs, a lower concentration of TOS was observed. Antioxidant activity was presented by a decreased activity of CAT in homogenates of the tongue, esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestine in comparison to the control group. Conclusion: Among those applied in the study, electromagnetic fields of a low-frequency caused the most significant disturbances of oxidative stress in the rat gastrointestinal tract. Open access paper: frontiersin.org

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AI evidence extraction

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 directionmixed

PopulationRats

Sample size40

Exposuremixed · 900 MHz · 28 consecutive days

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Forty rats were randomized to control, 50 Hz LF-EMF (10 kV/m; magnetic induction 4.3 pT), 900 MHz RF-EMF from mobile phones, or combined LF+RF exposure for 28 days. LF-EMF exposure was associated with higher pro-oxidant markers (MDA or TOS) in salivary glands, esophagus, and small intestine vs control, alongside changes in antioxidant enzymes (e.g., higher Cu,Zn-SOD in tongue/salivary glands/esophagus and decreased CAT in tongue/esophagus/small intestine). RF-EMF exposure showed higher TOS in large intestine and decreased Cu,Zn-SOD and CAT across multiple tissues; combined LF+RF showed lower TOS with decreased CAT in multiple tissues; authors conclude LF-EMF caused the most significant oxidative stress disturbances in the rat GI tract among exposures tested.

Outcomes measured

Oxidative stress / redox balance markers in gastrointestinal tract homogenates (SOD, Mn-SOD, Cu,Zn-SOD, CAT, GPx, GR, GST, TAC, TOS, MDA)

Limitations

No SAR reported for the 900 MHz mobile-phone RF exposure
Exposure details for RF-EMF (e.g., intensity/power density) not provided in abstract
Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract
Direction of some findings varies by tissue and marker (both increases and decreases reported)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "mixed",
    "source": "mobile phone",
    "frequency_mhz": 900,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "28 consecutive days"
  },
  "population": "Rats",
  "sample_size": 40,
  "outcomes": [
    "Oxidative stress / redox balance markers in gastrointestinal tract homogenates (SOD, Mn-SOD, Cu,Zn-SOD, CAT, GPx, GR, GST, TAC, TOS, MDA)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Forty rats were randomized to control, 50 Hz LF-EMF (10 kV/m; magnetic induction 4.3 pT), 900 MHz RF-EMF from mobile phones, or combined LF+RF exposure for 28 days. LF-EMF exposure was associated with higher pro-oxidant markers (MDA or TOS) in salivary glands, esophagus, and small intestine vs control, alongside changes in antioxidant enzymes (e.g., higher Cu,Zn-SOD in tongue/salivary glands/esophagus and decreased CAT in tongue/esophagus/small intestine). RF-EMF exposure showed higher TOS in large intestine and decreased Cu,Zn-SOD and CAT across multiple tissues; combined LF+RF showed lower TOS with decreased CAT in multiple tissues; authors conclude LF-EMF caused the most significant oxidative stress disturbances in the rat GI tract among exposures tested.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "No SAR reported for the 900 MHz mobile-phone RF exposure",
    "Exposure details for RF-EMF (e.g., intensity/power density) not provided in abstract",
    "Animal study; generalizability to humans not addressed in abstract",
    "Direction of some findings varies by tissue and marker (both increases and decreases reported)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "rat",
    "gastrointestinal tract",
    "oxidative stress",
    "redox balance",
    "low-frequency EMF",
    "50 Hz",
    "radiofrequency EMF",
    "900 MHz",
    "mobile phone",
    "SOD",
    "catalase",
    "TOS",
    "MDA"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "mobile-phones-rf",
      "weight": 0.78,
      "reason": "Includes RF-EMF exposure emitted by mobile phones at 900 MHz."
    },
    {
      "slug": "elf-emf",
      "weight": 0.74,
      "reason": "Includes low-frequency EMF exposure at 50 Hz with reported electric field intensity and magnetic induction."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.710484
PubMed: Not supplied

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