Medical/biological study (experimental study)

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

By: Bediz CS, Baltaci AK, Mogulkoc R, Oztekin E

Published in: Tohoku J Exp Med 2006; 208 (2): 133-140

Aim of study (acc. to author)

To study the effects of electromagnetic field exposure and zinc administration on lipid peroxidation in the rat brain.

Background/further details

Some of possible adverse health effects of electromagnetic field exposure are lipid peroxidation and cell damage in various tissues.
24 male were randomly divided into three groups: 1) untreated for 6 months (control, n = 8), 2) exposed to low frequency (50 Hz) electromagnetic fields for 5 minutes every other day for 6 months (n = 8), or 3) exposed to electromagnetic fields and daily zinc sulfate administration (3 mg/kg/day) (n = 8).

Endpoint

effects on the neurological system: lipid peroxidation in the brain, oxidative stress, activity of the antioxidant system

Exposure

- 50/60 Hz
- magnetic field
- inhouse wiring
- other domestic appliance
- co-exposure

Exposure	Parameters
Exposure 1: 50 Hz Exposure duration: 5 min exposure on every other day for 6 months	magnetic flux density: 5 µT unspecified

General information

Rats were divided into three groups (n=8/group): 1) Sham exposure group, 2) 50 Hz exposure group and 3) 50 Hz exposure + 3 mg/kg/day zinc sulfate.

Exposure 1

Main characteristics

Frequency	50 Hz
Type	magnetic field
Waveform	sinusoidal
Exposure duration	5 min exposure on every other day for 6 months

Exposure setup

Exposure source	coil(s)
Setup	single coil wrapped around the plastic cage (35 x 25 x 25 cm)
Sham exposure	A sham exposure was conducted.
Additional info	Rats in one of the group received a daily intraperitoneal injection of 3 mg/kg zinc sulfate in isotonic saline solution of less than 0.5 ml for 6 months.

Parameters

Measurand	Value	Type	Method	Mass	Remarks
magnetic flux density	5 µT	unspecified	calibration	-	-

Measurement and calculation details

Magnetic field was measured with a broad band magnetometer.

Exposed system:

Methods Endpoint/measurement parameters/methodology

effects on the neurological system: lipid peroxidation in the brain, oxidative stress, activity of the antioxidant system (see "molecular biosynthesis")
plasma levels of zinc; levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS; for malondialdehyde determination) in plasma and brain tissue; level of reduced glutathione in erythrocytes and brain tissue (spectrophotometry)

Investigated system:

isolated bio./chem. substance
blood samples, brain homogenates

Investigated organ system:

brain/CNS

Time of investigation:

after exposure

Main outcome of study (acc. to author)

TBARS levels were higher (both in plasma and brain tissues) in electromagnetic field-exposed rats with or without zinc supplementation, than those in controls. Additionally, TBARS levels were significantly lower in the zinc-supplemented animals than those in the electromagnetic field-exposed rats.
Glutathione levels were significantly decreased in electromagnetic field exposed rats, and were highest in the zinc-supplemented animals.
Plasma zinc was significantly lower in the electromagnetic field-exposed animals than those in controls, while it was highest in the zinc-supplemented rats.
The data suggest that long-term exposure to low frequency electromagnetic field increases lipid peroxidation in the brain, which may be ameliorated by zinc supplementation.

Study character:

medical/biological study
experimental study
full/main study

Study funded by

not stated/no funding

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