RF Safe

Effects of Antioxidant Vitamins on Proinflammatory Cytokines and Biochemical Parameters of Power Plant Workers: Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Bioelectromagnetics · 2020 · Mixed · Moderate evidence

← Research stream
MixedModerate evidencePaper 2208

After 3 months, IL-6 decreased significantly in all vitamin-receiving groups; IL-1β decreased significantly in the vitamin C and vitamin E&C groups; and TNF-α decreased significantly in the vitamin C group. HDL-c increased significantly in the vitamin E and v…

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2020
Study typerandomized_trial
Reported directionMixed
Evidence ratingModerate

Abstract

Effects of Antioxidant Vitamins on Proinflammatory Cytokines and Biochemical Parameters of Power Plant Workers: Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Majid Bagheri Hosseinabadi, Narges Khanjani, Pirasteh Norouzi, Ali Faghihi-Zarandi, Davood Darban-Sarokhalil, Seyed Sajjad Khoramrooz, Seyed Reza Mirbadie, Mehdi Mirzaii. The Effects of Antioxidant Vitamins on Proinflammatory Cytokines and Some Biochemical Parameters of Power Plant Workers: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Bioelectromagnetics. 2020 Sep 15. doi: 10.1002/bem.22294. Abstract Some epidemiological studies have suggested that exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF- MFs) can affect the immune system. This study aimed to investigate the effects of antioxidant vitamin consumption on proinflammatory cytokines and biochemical parameters changes. In this randomized, controlled double-blinded trial study, power plant workers exposed to ELF-MFs were enrolled based on inclusion criteria. Ninety-one eligible subjects were randomly divided into four groups: the first group (400 units of vitamin E/day), second group (1,000 mg of vitamin C/day), third group (400 units of vitamin E and 1,000 mg of vitamin C/day), and control group. The intervention was conducted for 3 months. Proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and biochemical parameters (fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-c], total protein, and albumin) were measured among the participants' serums, before and after the intervention. The mean level of IL-6 in all vitamin-receiving groups, the mean level of IL-1β in vitamin C and E&C groups, and the mean level of TNF-α in the vitamin C group, decreased significantly after intervention. The arithmetic means of the effect sizes for IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were 0.71, 0.57, and 0.2, respectively. The level of HDL-c in the vitamin E and vitamin E&C groups and the level of triglyceride in the vitamin C group significantly increased after the intervention. Taking antioxidant vitamins can prevent an increase of proinflammatory cytokines induced by prolonged exposure to ELF-MFs. pubmed.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 typerandomized_trial
Effect directionmixed
PopulationPower plant workers exposed to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs)
Sample size91
ExposureELF · prolonged exposure (workers); intervention 3 months
Evidence strengthModerateConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

After 3 months, IL-6 decreased significantly in all vitamin-receiving groups; IL-1β decreased significantly in the vitamin C and vitamin E&C groups; and TNF-α decreased significantly in the vitamin C group. HDL-c increased significantly in the vitamin E and vitamin E&C groups, and triglycerides increased significantly in the vitamin C group.

Outcomes measured

  • Proinflammatory cytokines: IL-1β
  • Proinflammatory cytokines: IL-6
  • Proinflammatory cytokines: TNF-α
  • Fasting blood sugar
  • Total cholesterol
  • Triglyceride
  • Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c)
  • High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c)
  • Total protein
  • Albumin

Limitations

  • Exposure characteristics (e.g., field strength, frequency) not reported in abstract
  • No details provided on randomization procedure, allocation concealment, or blinding assessment
  • Clinical relevance of biochemical changes and between-group comparisons not fully described in abstract
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "randomized_trial",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "occupational",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "prolonged exposure (workers); intervention 3 months"
  },
  "population": "Power plant workers exposed to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs)",
  "sample_size": 91,
  "outcomes": [
    "Proinflammatory cytokines: IL-1β",
    "Proinflammatory cytokines: IL-6",
    "Proinflammatory cytokines: TNF-α",
    "Fasting blood sugar",
    "Total cholesterol",
    "Triglyceride",
    "Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c)",
    "High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c)",
    "Total protein",
    "Albumin"
  ],
  "main_findings": "After 3 months, IL-6 decreased significantly in all vitamin-receiving groups; IL-1β decreased significantly in the vitamin C and vitamin E&C groups; and TNF-α decreased significantly in the vitamin C group. HDL-c increased significantly in the vitamin E and vitamin E&C groups, and triglycerides increased significantly in the vitamin C group.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure characteristics (e.g., field strength, frequency) not reported in abstract",
    "No details provided on randomization procedure, allocation concealment, or blinding assessment",
    "Clinical relevance of biochemical changes and between-group comparisons not fully described in abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "moderate",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low-frequency magnetic fields",
    "ELF-MFs",
    "occupational exposure",
    "power plant workers",
    "vitamin E",
    "vitamin C",
    "randomized controlled trial",
    "double-blind",
    "IL-1β",
    "IL-6",
    "TNF-α",
    "HDL-c",
    "triglycerides"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.9,
      "reason": "Study population is power plant workers with occupational ELF-MF exposure."
    }
  ]
}
AI can be wrong. Always verify against the paper.

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.22294
PubMed: 32931612

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library