The effect of vitamin E and C on comet assay indices and apoptosis in power plant workers: A double blind randomized controlled clinical trial

2020 · Benefit · Moderate evidence

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BenefitModerate evidencePaper 1561

Study snapshot

Publicationmanual · 2020

Study typerandomized_trial

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

The effect of vitamin E and C on comet assay indices and apoptosis in power plant workers: A double blind randomized controlled clinical trial Bagheri Hosseinabadi M, Khanjani N, Atashi A, Norouzi P, Mirbadie SR, Mirzaii M. The effect of vitamin E and C on comet assay indices and apoptosis in power plant workers: A double blind randomized controlled clinical trial. Mutat Res. 2020 Feb - Mar;850-851:503150. doi: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2020.503150. Abstract Extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields have been classified as a possible human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer and this has raised some concern about its health effects on employees extensively exposed to these fields at thermal power plants. In this study, the effect of using vitamin E and C supplements have been examined on employees working at a thermal power plant. In this randomized controlled, double-blind clinical trial, 81 employees from different parts of the thermal power plant were enrolled between July and November 2017, and divided into four groups: Group 1 received vitamin E (400 units/day), Group 2: vitamin C (1000 mg/day), Group 3: vitamin E + C and Group 4: no intervention. DNA damage was measured in peripheral blood lymphocytes using comet assay and apoptosis, using flow cytometry. Based on the results, tail intensity and tail length in the vitamin E group, and all comet assay indices in the vitamin E + C and vitamin C groups (except DNA damage index) significantly decreased after the intervention, while the comet assay indices did not change significantly in the control group. None of the flow cytometry indices including early apoptosis, late apoptosis and necrosis changed after intervention in either group. The use of antioxidant vitamins such as E and C, can increase the activity of the non-enzymatic antioxidant defense system, and protect DNA from damage caused by exposure to extremely low frequency magnetic fields. But, taking these vitamins has no effect on apoptosis. It seems that consumption of vitamin E affected all investigated comet assay indices and can be probably considered as the best intervention. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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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 typerandomized_trial

Effect directionbenefit

PopulationEmployees working at a thermal power plant (power plant workers)

Sample size81

ExposureELF · employees enrolled between July and November 2017; supplementation intervention (daily)

Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In this double-blind randomized controlled trial of 81 thermal power plant employees, comet assay indices decreased after supplementation in the vitamin E group (tail intensity and tail length) and in the vitamin C and vitamin E+C groups (all comet indices except DNA damage index), while comet indices did not change significantly in the control group. Flow cytometry indices (early apoptosis, late apoptosis, necrosis) did not change after intervention in any group.

Outcomes measured

DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes (comet assay indices: tail intensity, tail length, DNA damage index, and other comet indices)
Apoptosis and necrosis (flow cytometry: early apoptosis, late apoptosis, necrosis)

Limitations

Exposure level to extremely low frequency magnetic fields was not quantified in the abstract (no measurements or dose metrics reported).
Intervention study of antioxidants rather than a direct comparison of exposed vs unexposed workers.
Duration of supplementation/follow-up not clearly stated beyond daily dosing and enrollment window.

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "occupational",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "employees enrolled between July and November 2017; supplementation intervention (daily)"
  },
  "population": "Employees working at a thermal power plant (power plant workers)",
  "sample_size": 81,
  "outcomes": [
    "DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes (comet assay indices: tail intensity, tail length, DNA damage index, and other comet indices)",
    "Apoptosis and necrosis (flow cytometry: early apoptosis, late apoptosis, necrosis)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In this double-blind randomized controlled trial of 81 thermal power plant employees, comet assay indices decreased after supplementation in the vitamin E group (tail intensity and tail length) and in the vitamin C and vitamin E+C groups (all comet indices except DNA damage index), while comet indices did not change significantly in the control group. Flow cytometry indices (early apoptosis, late apoptosis, necrosis) did not change after intervention in any group.",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure level to extremely low frequency magnetic fields was not quantified in the abstract (no measurements or dose metrics reported).",
    "Intervention study of antioxidants rather than a direct comparison of exposed vs unexposed workers.",
    "Duration of supplementation/follow-up not clearly stated beyond daily dosing and enrollment window."
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields",
    "ELF magnetic fields",
    "thermal power plant workers",
    "occupational exposure",
    "vitamin E",
    "vitamin C",
    "antioxidants",
    "comet assay",
    "DNA damage",
    "apoptosis",
    "flow cytometry",
    "randomized controlled trial",
    "double blind"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study population is thermal power plant employees described as extensively exposed to extremely low frequency electromagnetic/magnetic fields."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2020.503150
PubMed: Not supplied

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