The role of zinc supplementation in the inhibition of tissue damage caused by exposure to electromagnetic field in rat lung and liver tissues.

Bratislavske lekarske listy · 2012 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 4512

Study snapshot

PublicationBratislavske lekarske listy · 2012

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of zinc supplementation on the oxidant damage in lung and liver tissues in rats exposed to a 50-Hz frequency magnetic field for 5 minutes every other day over a period of 6 months. METHODS: The study included 24 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, which were divided into the three groups in equal numbers: Group 1, the control group (G1); Group 2, the group exposed to an electromagnetic field (G2); and Group 3, the group, which was exposed to an EMF and supplemented with zinc (G3). At the end of the 6-month procedures, the animals were decapitated to collect lung and liver tissue samples, in which MDA was analyzed using the "TBARS method (nmol/g/protein)", GSH by the "biuret method (mg/g/protein)" and zinc levels by atomic emission (µg/dl). RESULTS: MDA levels in lung and liver tissues in G2 were higher than those in G1 and G3, and the levels in G3 were higher than those in G1 (p<0.01). As for GSH levels, G3 had GSH levels higher than G1 and G2, and G2 had GSH levels higher than G1 (p<0.01). Zinc values in the liver and lung tissues were the highest in the Group 3 and the lowest in the Group 2 (p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Results of the study indicated that exposure to an electromagnetic field caused cellular damage in lung and liver tissues and zinc supplementation inhibited the inflicted cellular damage. Another important result of this study that needs emphasis was that exposure to an electromagnetic field led to a significant decrease in zinc levels in lung and liver tissues (Tab. 3, Ref. 23).

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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

PopulationAdult male Sprague-Dawley rats

Sample size24

ExposureELF · 50-Hz magnetic field exposure for 5 minutes every other day over 6 months

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 86% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Rats exposed to a 50-Hz magnetic field had higher MDA levels in lung and liver tissues than controls, and zinc-supplemented exposed rats had lower MDA than exposed-only rats but higher than controls (p<0.01). GSH levels were highest in the EMF+zinc group, with exposed-only rats also higher than controls (p<0.01). Tissue zinc levels were highest in the EMF+zinc group and lowest in the EMF-only group (p<0.01).

Outcomes measured

Oxidative damage markers in lung and liver tissue (MDA/TBARS, GSH)
Tissue zinc levels (lung and liver)

Limitations

No magnetic field intensity reported
No details provided on zinc dose/regimen beyond supplementation
Small sample size (n=24)
Animal study; outcomes are biochemical markers rather than clinical endpoints

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "50-Hz magnetic field exposure for 5 minutes every other day over 6 months"
  },
  "population": "Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats",
  "sample_size": 24,
  "outcomes": [
    "Oxidative damage markers in lung and liver tissue (MDA/TBARS, GSH)",
    "Tissue zinc levels (lung and liver)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Rats exposed to a 50-Hz magnetic field had higher MDA levels in lung and liver tissues than controls, and zinc-supplemented exposed rats had lower MDA than exposed-only rats but higher than controls (p<0.01). GSH levels were highest in the EMF+zinc group, with exposed-only rats also higher than controls (p<0.01). Tissue zinc levels were highest in the EMF+zinc group and lowest in the EMF-only group (p<0.01).",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "No magnetic field intensity reported",
    "No details provided on zinc dose/regimen beyond supplementation",
    "Small sample size (n=24)",
    "Animal study; outcomes are biochemical markers rather than clinical endpoints"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.86,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF magnetic field",
    "50 Hz",
    "rat",
    "lung",
    "liver",
    "oxidative stress",
    "MDA",
    "TBARS",
    "GSH",
    "zinc supplementation"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.25,
      "reason": "Study involves 50-Hz magnetic field exposure (ELF), which is commonly relevant to occupational/ELF exposure contexts, though no specific source is stated."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.4149/bll_2012_090
PubMed: 22794512

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