Evaluation of inflammatory biomarkers associated with oxidative stress and histological assessment of magnetic therapy on experimental myopathy in rats.
Vignola MB, Dávila S, Cremonezzi D, Simes JC, Palma JA, Campana VR · 2012
View Original AbstractHigh-intensity magnetic fields reduced muscle inflammation in rats, demonstrating that EMFs have measurable biological effects at therapeutic doses.
Plain English Summary
Researchers exposed rats with muscle inflammation to pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) at 20 mT and 50 Hz for 30 minutes daily over 8 days. The PEMF treatment significantly reduced inflammatory markers and oxidative stress indicators while promoting muscle healing. This suggests that specific electromagnetic field exposures may have therapeutic benefits for muscle injuries, though the high field strength used is much greater than typical environmental exposures.
Why This Matters
This study presents an interesting paradox in EMF research - the same type of electromagnetic fields that raise health concerns at environmental levels appear to have therapeutic benefits at higher, controlled doses. The 20 mT field strength used here is roughly 400 times stronger than typical household magnetic field exposures, which usually measure around 0.05 mT. What makes this research particularly relevant is that it demonstrates measurable biological effects from EMF exposure, supporting the broader scientific understanding that electromagnetic fields do interact with biological systems. The anti-inflammatory effects observed here don't negate concerns about chronic low-level exposures, but they do underscore the complexity of EMF bioeffects and the importance of considering both dose and duration when evaluating health impacts.
Exposure Details
- Magnetic Field
- 20 mG
- Source/Device
- 50 Hz
- Exposure Duration
- 30 min/day for 8 consecutive days
Exposure Context
This study used 20 mG for magnetic fields:
- 1,000Kx above the Building Biology guideline of 0.2 mG
- 200Kx above the BioInitiative Report recommendation of 1 mG
Building Biology guidelines are practitioner-based limits from real-world assessments. BioInitiative Report recommendations are based on peer-reviewed science. Check Your Exposure to compare your own measurements.
Where This Falls on the Concern Scale
Study Details
The effect of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy, also called magnetic therapy, upon inflammatory biomarkers associated with oxidative stress plasma fibrinogen, nitric oxide (NO), L-citrulline, carbonyl groups, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) was evaluated through histological assessment, in rats with experimental myopathy.
The groups studied were: (A) control (intact rats that received PEMF sham exposures); (B) rats with ...
In Groups B and C, the biomarkers were significantly increased compared to A, D, and E groups: fibri...
PEMF caused decreased levels of fibrinogen, L-citrulline, NO, SOD, and carbonyl groups and significant muscle recovery in rats with experimental myopathies.
Show BibTeX
@article{mb_2012_evaluation_of_inflammatory_biomarkers_477,
author = {Vignola MB and Dávila S and Cremonezzi D and Simes JC and Palma JA and Campana VR},
title = {Evaluation of inflammatory biomarkers associated with oxidative stress and histological assessment of magnetic therapy on experimental myopathy in rats.},
year = {2012},
doi = {10.3109/15368378.2011.641706},
url = {https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.3109/15368378.2011.641706},
}