Effects of Antioxidant Vitamins on Proinflammatory Cytokines and Biochemical Parameters of Power Plant Workers: Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

Effects of Antioxidant Vitamins on Proinflammatory Cytokines and Biochemical Parameters of Power Plant Workers: Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Majid Bagheri Hosseinabadi, Narges Khanjani, Pirasteh Norouzi, Ali Faghihi-Zarandi, Davood Darban-Sarokhalil, Seyed Sajjad Khoramrooz, Seyed Reza Mirbadie, Mehdi Mirzaii. The Effects of Antioxidant Vitamins on Proinflammatory Cytokines and Some Biochemical Parameters of Power Plant Workers: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial. Bioelectromagnetics. 2020 Sep 15. doi: 10.1002/bem.22294. Abstract Some epidemiological studies have suggested that exposure to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF- MFs) can affect the immune system. This study aimed to investigate the effects of antioxidant vitamin consumption on proinflammatory cytokines and biochemical parameters changes. In this randomized, controlled double-blinded trial study, power plant workers exposed to ELF-MFs were enrolled based on inclusion criteria. Ninety-one eligible subjects were randomly divided into four groups: the first group (400 units of vitamin E/day), second group (1,000 mg of vitamin C/day), third group (400 units of vitamin E and 1,000 mg of vitamin C/day), and control group. The intervention was conducted for 3 months. Proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and biochemical parameters (fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-c], total protein, and albumin) were measured among the participants' serums, before and after the intervention. The mean level of IL-6 in all vitamin-receiving groups, the mean level of IL-1β in vitamin C and E&C groups, and the mean level of TNF-α in the vitamin C group, decreased significantly after intervention. The arithmetic means of the effect sizes for IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were 0.71, 0.57, and 0.2, respectively. The level of HDL-c in the vitamin E and vitamin E&C groups and the level of triglyceride in the vitamin C group significantly increased after the intervention. Taking antioxidant vitamins can prevent an increase of proinflammatory cytokines induced by prolonged exposure to ELF-MFs. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

After 3 months, IL-6 decreased significantly in all vitamin-receiving groups; IL-1β decreased significantly in the vitamin C and vitamin E&C groups; and TNF-α decreased significantly in the vitamin C group. HDL-c increased significantly in the vitamin E and vitamin E&C groups, and triglycerides increased significantly in the vitamin C group.

Outcomes measured

• Proinflammatory cytokines: IL-1β
• Proinflammatory cytokines: IL-6
• Proinflammatory cytokines: TNF-α
• Fasting blood sugar
• Total cholesterol
• Triglyceride
• Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c)
• High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c)
• Total protein
• Albumin

Limitations

• Exposure characteristics (e.g., field strength, frequency) not reported in abstract
• No details provided on randomization procedure, allocation concealment, or blinding assessment
• Clinical relevance of biochemical changes and between-group comparisons not fully described in abstract

Suggested hubs

• occupational-exposure (0.9)
  Study population is power plant workers with occupational ELF-MF exposure.

{
    "study_type": "randomized_trial",
    "exposure": {
        "band": "ELF",
        "source": "occupational",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": "prolonged exposure (workers); intervention 3 months"
    },
    "population": "Power plant workers exposed to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields (ELF-MFs)",
    "sample_size": 91,
    "outcomes": [
        "Proinflammatory cytokines: IL-1β",
        "Proinflammatory cytokines: IL-6",
        "Proinflammatory cytokines: TNF-α",
        "Fasting blood sugar",
        "Total cholesterol",
        "Triglyceride",
        "Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c)",
        "High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c)",
        "Total protein",
        "Albumin"
    ],
    "main_findings": "After 3 months, IL-6 decreased significantly in all vitamin-receiving groups; IL-1β decreased significantly in the vitamin C and vitamin E&C groups; and TNF-α decreased significantly in the vitamin C group. HDL-c increased significantly in the vitamin E and vitamin E&C groups, and triglycerides increased significantly in the vitamin C group.",
    "effect_direction": "mixed",
    "limitations": [
        "Exposure characteristics (e.g., field strength, frequency) not reported in abstract",
        "No details provided on randomization procedure, allocation concealment, or blinding assessment",
        "Clinical relevance of biochemical changes and between-group comparisons not fully described in abstract"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "moderate",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "extremely low-frequency magnetic fields",
        "ELF-MFs",
        "occupational exposure",
        "power plant workers",
        "vitamin E",
        "vitamin C",
        "randomized controlled trial",
        "double-blind",
        "IL-1β",
        "IL-6",
        "TNF-α",
        "HDL-c",
        "triglycerides"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": [
        {
            "slug": "occupational-exposure",
            "weight": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
            "reason": "Study population is power plant workers with occupational ELF-MF exposure."
        }
    ]
}

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