Zinc supplementation ameliorates electromagnetic field-induced lipid peroxidation in the rat brain.

The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine · 2006 · Harm · Low evidence

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HarmLow evidencePaper 5143

Compared with controls, EMF-exposed rats had higher TBARS in plasma and brain tissue and lower GSH in brain and erythrocytes. Zinc-supplemented EMF-exposed rats had lower TBARS and higher GSH than EMF-only rats, and higher plasma zinc levels.

Study snapshot

PublicationThe Tohoku journal of experimental medicine · 2006

Study typeanimal

Reported directionHarm

Evidence ratingLow

Abstract

Extremely low-frequency (0-300 Hz) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) generated by power lines, wiring and home appliances are ubiquitous in our environment. All populations are now exposed to EMF, and exposure to EMF may pose health risks. Some of the adverse health effects of EMF exposure are lipid peroxidation and cell damage in various tissues. This study has investigated the effects of EMF exposure and zinc administration on lipid peroxidation in the rat brain. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to three groups; they were maintained untreated for 6 months (control, n = 8), exposed to low-frequency (50 Hz) EMF for 5 minutes every other day for 6 months (n = 8), or exposed to EMF and received zinc sulfate daily (3 mg/kg/day) intraperitoneally (n = 8). We measured plasma levels of zinc and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) in erythrocytes. TBARS and GSH levels were also determined in the brain tissues. TBARS levels in the plasma and brain tissues were higher in EMF-exposed rats with or without zinc supplementation, than those in controls (p < 0.001). In addition, TBARS levels were significantly lower in the zinc-supplemented rats than those in the EMF-exposed rats (p < 0.001). GSH levels were significantly decreased in the brain and erythrocytes of the EMF-exposed rats (p < 0.01), and were highest in the zinc-supplemented rats (p < 0.001). Plasma zinc was significantly lower in the EMF-exposed rats than those in controls (p < 0.001), while it was highest in the zinc-supplemented rats (p < 0.001). The present study suggests that long-term exposure to low-frequency EMF increases lipid peroxidation in the brain, which may be ameliorated by zinc supplementation.

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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

PopulationMale Sprague-Dawley rats

Sample size24

ExposureELF · 50 Hz EMF exposure for 5 minutes every other day for 6 months

Evidence strengthLowConfidence: 78% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Outcomes measured

Lipid peroxidation (TBARS) in plasma and brain tissue
Reduced glutathione (GSH) in brain tissue, erythrocytes
Plasma zinc levels

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "animal",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "power lines, wiring and home appliances",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "50 Hz EMF exposure for 5 minutes every other day for 6 months"
  },
  "population": "Male Sprague-Dawley rats",
  "sample_size": 24,
  "outcomes": [
    "Lipid peroxidation (TBARS) in plasma and brain tissue",
    "Reduced glutathione (GSH) in brain tissue, erythrocytes",
    "Plasma zinc levels"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Compared with controls, EMF-exposed rats had higher TBARS in plasma and brain tissue and lower GSH in brain and erythrocytes. Zinc-supplemented EMF-exposed rats had lower TBARS and higher GSH than EMF-only rats, and higher plasma zinc levels.",
  "effect_direction": "harm",
  "limitations": [],
  "evidence_strength": "low",
  "confidence": 0.78,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "extremely low-frequency",
    "ELF EMF",
    "50 Hz",
    "rat brain",
    "lipid peroxidation",
    "TBARS",
    "glutathione",
    "GSH",
    "zinc supplementation",
    "zinc sulfate"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": [
    {
      "slug": "occupational-exposure",
      "weight": 0.2,
      "reason": "Mentions ELF EMFs from power lines/wiring/home appliances; not specifically occupational but relates to common ELF sources."
    }
  ]
}

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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: 10.1620/tjem.208.133
PubMed: 16434836

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