Comparative analysis of the protective effects of melatonin and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on mobile phone-induced renal impairment in rat.
Ozguner F, Oktem F, Armagan A, Yilmaz R, Koyu A, Demirel R, Vural H, Uz E. · 2005
View Original AbstractMobile phone radiation damaged rat kidneys through oxidative stress, but natural antioxidants like melatonin provided significant protection against this cellular damage.
Plain English Summary
Turkish researchers exposed rats to 900 MHz mobile phone radiation and found it caused kidney damage by increasing harmful molecules and reducing protective antioxidants. However, when rats were pre-treated with melatonin or CAPE (a natural compound from propolis), both substances protected against this kidney damage, with melatonin showing stronger protective effects. This suggests that mobile phone radiation can harm kidney tissue through oxidative stress, but natural antioxidants may offer protection.
Why This Matters
This study adds to growing evidence that mobile phone radiation affects organs beyond the brain, demonstrating measurable kidney damage in laboratory animals. The 900 MHz frequency used here falls within the range of standard cell phone communications, making these findings directly relevant to everyday exposure. What makes this research particularly significant is that it identifies a clear biological mechanism - oxidative stress - by which RF radiation damages tissue, and shows that this damage can be prevented with antioxidant intervention. The reality is that while your kidneys aren't pressed against your phone like your brain, they're still exposed to RF fields when you carry your device on your body. The protective effects of melatonin observed here align with other studies showing this hormone's ability to counteract RF-induced cellular damage, though you should consult healthcare providers before considering supplementation.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 900 MHz
Study Details
The present study was carried out to compare the protective effects of melatonin and CAPE against 900 MHz EMR emitted mobile phone-induced renal tubular injury.
Melatonin was administered whereas CAPE was given for 10 days before the exposure. Urinary N-acetyl-...
Urinary NAG and renal MDA were increased in EMR exposed rats while both melatonin and CAPE caused a ...
In conclusion, melatonin and CAPE prevent renal tubular injury by reducing oxidative stress and protect the kidney from oxidative damage induced by 900 MHz mobile phone. Nevertheless, melatonin seems to be a more potent antioxidant compared with CAPE in kidney.
Show BibTeX
@article{f_2005_comparative_analysis_of_the_1691,
author = {Ozguner F and Oktem F and Armagan A and Yilmaz R and Koyu A and Demirel R and Vural H and Uz E.},
title = {Comparative analysis of the protective effects of melatonin and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) on mobile phone-induced renal impairment in rat.},
year = {2005},
doi = {10.1007/s11010-005-2734-8},
url = {https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11010-005-2734-8},
}