Effects of 3.5-GHz radiofrequency radiation on energy-regulatory hormone levels in the blood and adipose tissue

Overview

Exposure to radiofrequency radiation (RFR) emitted from wireless equipment has increased significantly in recent years. This study aimed to investigate how 3.5-GHz RFR affects hormones involved in regulating body energy metabolism.

• Twenty-eight rats were divided into four groups: healthy sham, healthy RFR, diabetic sham, and diabetic RFR.
• All groups spent 2 hours daily for one month in a Plexiglas carousel; only the experimental groups were exposed to RFR.

Findings

• After the experiment, researchers collected blood and adipose tissues to analyze levels of total antioxidant, total oxidant, hydrogen peroxide, and key hormones: ghrelin, nesfatin-1, and irisin.
• Insulin expression in pancreatic tissues was also studied through immunohistochemistry.
• The exposed groups showed a whole body specific absorption rate of 37 mW/kg.
• Blood and adipose nesfatin-1 levels, as well as blood and pancreatic insulin, were significantly decreased in both healthy and diabetic rats exposed to RFR.
• Conversely, ghrelin, irisin, and blood glucose levels were increased following RFR exposure.
• Statistical significance was noted: nesfatin-1 (p = 0.002), insulin (p = 0.001), ghrelin (p = 0.020), irisin (p = 0.020), blood glucose (p = 0.040).
• Nesfatin-1 was negatively correlated with oxidative stress, hyperglycemia, and insulin, while ghrelin and irisin were positively correlated with oxidative stress and hyperglycemia.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that 3.5-GHz RFR exposure has deleterious effects on energy metabolism, particularly in the presence of diabetes. Importantly, these results indicate a potential link between exposure to electromagnetic fields and disruptions to hormonal balance and metabolic health markers.