Effects of Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Application on Glucose Metabolism in Rats

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) exposure on glucose metabolism-related hormonal and oxidative stress markers. Twenty-three male Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned to three groups: sham-control (n = 7), PEMF (n = 8), and PEMF + vitamin C (n = 8). The PEMF and PEMF + vitamin C groups were exposed to a pulsed magnetic field at 50 Hz and 1.5 mT for 4 h daily over 4 weeks. Vitamin C (250 mg/kg/day) was administered orally to the PEMF + vitamin C group. Serum and tissue levels of insulin, glucagon, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and total oxidant capacity (TOC) were measured. Histopathological evaluations of brain, liver, and pancreatic tissues were also performed. Serum glucose, insulin, glucagon, GLP-1, SIRT1, TAC, and TOC levels did not differ significantly among the experimental groups. Gastric TAC levels were significantly higher in the PEMF + vitamin C group. In renal tissue, insulin levels were significantly elevated only in the PEMF + vitamin C group. PEMF exposure did not induce systemic biochemical changes in healthy rats but elicited tissue-specific biochemical responses, particularly in gastric tissue. These findings suggest that PEMF may modulate glucose-related endocrine and redox pathways at the gastrointestinal level without causing structural tissue damage. Bioelectromagnetics. 00:00-00, 2026.