Influence of a 60 Hz, 3 microT, electromagnetic field on the reflex maturation of Wistar rats offspring from mothers fed a regional basic diet during pregnancy.

Nutritional neuroscience · 2006 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 5091

Pregnant rats were exposed to a 60 Hz, 3 microT magnetic field for 2 h/day during pregnancy and/or fed a regional basic diet. The association of EMF exposure with the deficient diet was reported to delay all assessed offspring reflexes compared with the casei…

Study snapshot

PublicationNutritional neuroscience · 2006

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to observe how the exposition of the pregnant rats to the electromagnetic field (EMF), with frequency of 60 Hz, magnetic field of 3 microT for 2 h per day and/or using the so-called regional basic diet (RBD) influenced the reflex maturation in their offspring. Four groups were formed: Group A (casein), B (casein and EMF), C (RBD) and D (RBD and EMF). The diet manipulation occurred during the pregnancy. The reflexes--assessed daily between 12:00 and 14:00--were: palm grasp (PG), righting reflex (RR), cliff avoidance (CA), vibrissae placing (VP), negative geotaxis (NG), auditory startle (AS) and free-fall righting (FFR). The association between EMF and deficient diet caused a delay in all reflexes when compared with Group A. When the diets were compared with both groups exposed to EMF, the delay occurred in the RR, VP, NG and CA in Group D. In the Groups C and A, the delay was observed in RR, CA, VP, NG, AS and PG. In relation to the EMF, Group B differed from Group A in CA, AS, FFR and PG and Group D differed from C in the PG. In conclusion, all the reflexes studied in this research were delayed by the association of the EMF with undernutrition during pregnancy.

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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 directionharm

PopulationPregnant Wistar rats and their offspring

Sample sizeNot supplied

ExposureELF · 0.06 MHz · 2 h per day during pregnancy

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Reflex maturation in offspring (palm grasp, righting reflex, cliff avoidance, vibrissae placing, negative geotaxis, auditory startle, free-fall righting)

Limitations

Sample size not reported in abstract
Details of randomization/blinding not reported in abstract
Exposure characterization limited to frequency, field strength, and daily duration (no additional dosimetry reported)

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "other",
    "frequency_mhz": 0.06,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "2 h per day during pregnancy"
  },
  "population": "Pregnant Wistar rats and their offspring",
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Reflex maturation in offspring (palm grasp, righting reflex, cliff avoidance, vibrissae placing, negative geotaxis, auditory startle, free-fall righting)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Pregnant rats were exposed to a 60 Hz, 3 microT magnetic field for 2 h/day during pregnancy and/or fed a regional basic diet. The association of EMF exposure with the deficient diet was reported to delay all assessed offspring reflexes compared with the casein control group.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [
    "Sample size not reported in abstract",
    "Details of randomization/blinding not reported in abstract",
    "Exposure characterization limited to frequency, field strength, and daily duration (no additional dosimetry reported)"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "ELF EMF",
    "60 Hz",
    "3 microT",
    "pregnancy",
    "undernutrition",
    "regional basic diet",
    "Wistar rats",
    "offspring",
    "neurodevelopment",
    "reflex maturation"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "ELF (60 Hz) magnetic-field exposure paradigm could be relevant to occupational/ambient power-frequency exposure, though the study is in animals."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1080/10284150600929680
PubMed: 17263086

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