The effect of supplementary antioxidant therapy in patients who report hypersensitivity to electricity: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Context: Hypersensitivity to electricity is a proposed environmental illness of unknown etiology. Patients report a variety of symptoms that they relate to electric equipment. The afflicted individuals suffer from ill health. Many interventions have been tried but, to date, there is no one specific treatment that has been proven superior to other remedial actions. In general, there is a lack of controlled prospective studies.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that antioxidant therapy reduces symptoms and improves health in patients reporting hypersensitivity to electricity.

Design: Randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study.

Setting: Patients referred to the Environmental Illness Research Centre, Stockholm County Council.

Patients: Sixteen patients reporting hypersensitivity to electricity.

Intervention: Antioxidant supplementation (vitamins C and E, selenium).

Main outcome measures: Self-reported symptoms and reported degree of hypersensitivity to electricity, serum levels of uric acid and diphenylpycrylhydrazyl (DPPH).

Results: The results indicated no significant differences in reported symptoms, reported hypersensitivity to electricity, or oxidative status in serum between periods of antioxidant and placebo treatments. Serum levels of DPPH and uric acid showed no correlation with the reported degree of symptoms or hypersensitivity to electricity.

Conclusions: The study did not show any beneficial effect of antioxidant supplementation for patients reporting hypersensitivity to electricity. The results do not support the hypothesis that oxidative stress is a major contributor to ill health in patients who report hypersensitivity to electricity.