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

PAPER pubmed The Tohoku journal of experimental medicine 2006 Animal study Effect: harm Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1620/tjem.208.133 PMID: 16434836 Evidence Lab

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.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Animal study

Effect direction

harm

Population

Male Sprague-Dawley rats

Sample size

Exposure

ELF power lines, wiring and home appliances · 50 Hz EMF exposure for 5 minutes every other day for 6 months

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 78% · Peer-reviewed: yes

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.

Outcomes measured

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

Suggested hubs

occupational-exposure (0.2)
Mentions ELF EMFs from power lines/wiring/home appliances; not specifically occupational but relates to common ELF sources.

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": 0.7800000000000000266453525910037569701671600341796875,
    "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": 0.200000000000000011102230246251565404236316680908203125,
            "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/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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