Effect of electromagnetic fields and antioxidants on the trace element content of rat teeth.

Drug design, development and therapy · 2017 · Mixed · Low evidence

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MixedLow evidencePaper 4922

Study snapshot

PublicationDrug design, development and therapy · 2017

Study typeanimal

Reported directionMixed

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the possible effect of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMFs), from a high-voltage source, on rat teeth in terms of changes in trace elements (TEs) and the effect of antioxidants (melatonin [MLT] and [GL]) in counteracting these effects. We used adult male Wistar albino rats with a mean weight of 250-300 g and divided the rats into eight groups. The groups were subjected to an ELF-EMF that was applied with a high-voltage line for 8 hours/day for 26 days (Groups I, II, and III) or 52 days (Groups V, VI, and VII). Groups IV and VIII were the 26- and 52-day control/sham groups, respectively. Groups II and VI were treated with GL, and Groups III and VII were treated with MLT. MLT and GL were administered daily based on the weight of the animals and appropriate standards. At the end of the study, the rats were euthanized, and their anterior teeth were extracted. The teeth were preserved in pure water before evaluating the major TEs. At the end of the study, TE concentrations (in mg/kg) were assessed in the control and test groups. Compared with Group V, statistically significant differences in the concentrations of zinc (Zn) and strontium (Sr) were found for Group VII (ELF-EMF + MLT) (<0.05). Therefore, ELF-EMF exposure can change the content of certain TEs in teeth and, after administering MLT and GL, the values of some of the TEs return to normal.

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 typeanimal

Effect directionmixed

PopulationAdult male Wistar albino rats (250–300 g)

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 8 hours/day for 26 days or 52 days

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Rats were exposed to ELF-EMF from a high-voltage line (8 h/day) for 26 or 52 days, with some groups receiving antioxidants (melatonin or GL). Statistically significant differences in tooth Zn and Sr concentrations were reported for the 52-day ELF-EMF + melatonin group compared with the 52-day comparison group (Group V) (P<0.05). The abstract states that ELF-EMF exposure can change certain tooth trace elements and that after administering melatonin and GL, some trace element values return to normal.

Outcomes measured

Trace element concentrations in rat anterior teeth (mg/kg)
Zinc (Zn) concentration
Strontium (Sr) concentration

Limitations

Sample size not reported in the abstract
ELF-EMF exposure parameters (e.g., field strength, frequency) not reported in the abstract
Unclear which specific group(s) serve as the primary control for each comparison (e.g., definition of Group V not described in the abstract)
Only select trace elements (Zn, Sr) are explicitly mentioned as significantly different; full results not provided in the abstract

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "high-voltage line",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "8 hours/day for 26 days or 52 days"
  },
  "population": "Adult male Wistar albino rats (250–300 g)",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Trace element concentrations in rat anterior teeth (mg/kg)",
    "Zinc (Zn) concentration",
    "Strontium (Sr) concentration"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Rats were exposed to ELF-EMF from a high-voltage line (8 h/day) for 26 or 52 days, with some groups receiving antioxidants (melatonin or GL). Statistically significant differences in tooth Zn and Sr concentrations were reported for the 52-day ELF-EMF + melatonin group compared with the 52-day comparison group (Group V) (P<0.05). The abstract states that ELF-EMF exposure can change certain tooth trace elements and that after administering melatonin and GL, some trace element values return to normal.",
  "effect_direction": "mixed",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in the abstract",
    "ELF-EMF exposure parameters (e.g., field strength, frequency) not reported in the abstract",
    "Unclear which specific group(s) serve as the primary control for each comparison (e.g., definition of Group V not described in the abstract)",
    "Only select trace elements (Zn, Sr) are explicitly mentioned as significantly different; full results not provided in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF-EMF",
    "high-voltage line",
    "rat teeth",
    "trace elements",
    "zinc",
    "strontium",
    "melatonin",
    "antioxidants",
    "Wistar rats"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.35,
      "reason": "Exposure source described as a high-voltage line (power-line/ELF context)."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.2147/dddt.s132308
PubMed: 28496309

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