Metabolomics and psychological features in fibromyalgia and electromagnetic sensitivity

2020 · Unclear · Low evidence

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UnclearLow evidencePaper 1517

No significant differences between IEI-EMF and controls were found for personality aspects, Locus of Control, or anxiety. Multivariate analysis of 1H NMR-identified metabolites indicated a distinct metabolic profile in IEI-EMF vs healthy subjects, with higher…

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2020

Study typecross_sectional

Reported directionUnclear

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Metabolomics and psychological features in fibromyalgia and electromagnetic sensitivity Cristina Piras, Stella Conte, Monica Pibiri, Giacomo Rao, Sandro Muntoni, Vera Piera Leoni, Gabriele Finco, Luigi Atzori. Metabolomics and psychological features in fibromyalgia and electromagnetic sensitivity. Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 24;10(1):20418. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-76876-8. Abstract Fibromyalgia (FM) as Fibromyalgia and Electromagnetic Sensitivity (IEI-EMF) are a chronic and systemic syndrome. The main symptom is represented by strong and widespread pain in the musculoskeletal system. The exact causes that lead to the development of FM and IEI-EMF are still unknown. Interestingly, the proximity to electrical and electromagnetic devices seems to trigger and/or amplify the symptoms. We investigated the blood plasma metabolome in IEI-EMF and healthy subjects using 1H NMR spectroscopy coupled with multivariate statistical analysis. All the individuals were subjected to tests for the evaluation of psychological and physical features. No significant differences between IEI-EMF and controls relative to personality aspects, Locus of Control, and anxiety were found. Multivariate statistical analysis on the metabolites identified by NMR analysis allowed the identification of a distinct metabolic profile between IEI-EMF and healthy subjects. IEI-EMF were characterized by higher levels of glycine and pyroglutamate, and lower levels of 2-hydroxyisocaproate, choline, glutamine, and isoleucine compared to healthy subjects. These metabolites are involved in several metabolic pathways mainly related to oxidative stress defense, pain mechanisms, and muscle metabolism. The results here obtained highlight possible physiopathological mechanisms in IEI-EMF patients to be better defined. Open access paper: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Machine Enhanced Logic

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 typecross_sectional

Effect directionunclear

PopulationIndividuals with idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF) and healthy subjects (controls)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Blood plasma metabolome (1H NMR spectroscopy)
Psychological and physical features (personality aspects, Locus of Control, anxiety)

Limitations

Exposure was not quantified (no frequency, intensity, SAR, or duration reported)
Study design appears observational/cross-sectional, limiting causal inference
Sample size not reported in provided abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "cross_sectional",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "electrical and electromagnetic devices (proximity reported as symptom trigger)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Individuals with idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF) and healthy subjects (controls)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Blood plasma metabolome (1H NMR spectroscopy)",
    "Psychological and physical features (personality aspects, Locus of Control, anxiety)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "No significant differences between IEI-EMF and controls were found for personality aspects, Locus of Control, or anxiety. Multivariate analysis of 1H NMR-identified metabolites indicated a distinct metabolic profile in IEI-EMF vs healthy subjects, with higher glycine and pyroglutamate and lower 2-hydroxyisocaproate, choline, glutamine, and isoleucine.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure was not quantified (no frequency, intensity, SAR, or duration reported)",
    "Study design appears observational/cross-sectional, limiting causal inference",
    "Sample size not reported in provided abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "IEI-EMF",
    "electromagnetic sensitivity",
    "fibromyalgia",
    "metabolomics",
    "1H NMR",
    "oxidative stress",
    "pain",
    "psychological features"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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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: 10.1038/s41598-020-76876-8
PubMed: Not supplied

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