Disturbed sleep in individuals with idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF): Melatonin assessment as a biological marker.

Bioelectromagnetics · 2016 · Mixed · Low evidence

← Research stream

MixedLow evidencePaper 4871

Sleep questionnaire scores differed significantly between IEI-EMF participants and controls (lower scores in the IEI-EMF group; P<0.001). However, there were no statistically significant differences between groups in salivary melatonin or urinary aMT6s (both …

Study snapshot

PublicationBioelectromagnetics · 2016

Study typecase_control

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Individuals who suffer from idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF) complain of a variety of adverse health effects. Troubled sleep remains a recurrent and common symptom in IEI-EMF individuals. Melatonin, a circadian hormone, plays a major role in the sleep process. In this study, we compared levels of melatonin between a sensitive group (IEI-EMF, n = 30) and a non-sensitive control group (non IEI-EMF, n = 25) without exposure to electromagnetic sources. Three questionnaires were used to evaluate the subjective quality and sleep quantity: the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Spiegel Sleep Inventory. Melatonin was quantified in saliva and its major metabolite 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) in urine. Melatonin levels were compared by a two-way analysis of variance at various times between the control and IEI-EMF group. Despite significantly different sleep scores between the two groups, with a lower score in the IEI-EMF group (P < 0.001), no statistical difference was found between the two groups for saliva melatonin (P > 0.05) and urine aMT6s (P > 0.05). Bioelectromagnetics. 37:175-182, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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 typecase_control

Effect directionmixed

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

Sample size55

ExposureNot supplied

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Subjective sleep quality/quantity (Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Spiegel Sleep Inventory)
Salivary melatonin levels
Urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) levels

Limitations

Exposure characteristics (frequency, intensity, duration) not described; participants were stated to be without exposure to electromagnetic sources
Cross-sectional comparison limits causal inference
IEI-EMF status and sleep outcomes rely on self-report questionnaires

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "case_control",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": null,
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": "Individuals with idiopathic environmental intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (IEI-EMF) and non-sensitive controls",
  "sample_size": 55,
  "outcomes": [
    "Subjective sleep quality/quantity (Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Spiegel Sleep Inventory)",
    "Salivary melatonin levels",
    "Urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) levels"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Sleep questionnaire scores differed significantly between IEI-EMF participants and controls (lower scores in the IEI-EMF group; P<0.001). However, there were no statistically significant differences between groups in salivary melatonin or urinary aMT6s (both P>0.05) under conditions described as without exposure to electromagnetic sources.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Exposure characteristics (frequency, intensity, duration) not described; participants were stated to be without exposure to electromagnetic sources",
    "Cross-sectional comparison limits causal inference",
    "IEI-EMF status and sleep outcomes rely on self-report questionnaires"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "IEI-EMF",
    "electromagnetic hypersensitivity",
    "sleep",
    "melatonin",
    "6-sulfatoxymelatonin",
    "saliva",
    "urine",
    "questionnaires"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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.21965
PubMed: 26969907

Read the original paper →

Related papers

← Back to the Research Library