Melatonin: A New Way to Diagnose Electrohypersensitivity

Melatonin:  A New Way to Diagnose Electrohypersensitivity

by Jacques Lintermans, Doctor of Science and André Vander Vorst, Professor Emeritus UC Louvain* 

 *Founding Member of European Microwave Association

It has been shown that absorption of electromagnetic fields (EMF) at the level of the head occurs mainly through the eyes (1)(2), following the same path as light from the retina to the pineal gland where melatonin is secreted (3).

Melatonin levels, as measured in the 24h urinary excretion of its main metabolite p-hydroxysulfate (6-OHMS), are significantly lowered in 88% of cases (4) from several hundred people clinically categorized as sensitive to EMF or electrohypersensitive (EHS) (5).

By contrast, melatonin values are not altered in normal individuals exposed to EMF (6), while no abnormalities in the mean amount of daily melatonin excretion have been reported in depressed patients (7).

Melatonin depletion measured in people suspected of being electrohypersensitive could thus be specific for such population of patients and contribute to an objective diagnosis of their pathophysiological deficiency.

Since melatonin inhibits matrix metalloproteinases that control the blood-brain barrier (8)(9) a reduced secretion will favor its opening. The resulting hypoxia would explain the disorders (10) in the cerebral sphere of EHS subjects.

In these people, a sleep deficit is predominantly observed.

Treatment by melatonin is therefore indicated for the test-related responding person whose resulting improvement of symptoms would bring a piece of confirmation that electrohypersensitivity was correctly diagnosed.

References

(1) Glara Fuad Hasan, Specific absorption rate for frequency range used in GSM 900 and GSM 1800 MHz, CHERNE 2018-14th Workshop on European Collaboration in Higher Education on Radiological and Nuclear Engineering and Radiation Protection

(2) Lintermans J., Vander Vorst A. Effets des champs électromagnétiques sur la mélatonine. Mieux Prévenir, Janvier 2022

(3) Sackf R. and Lewy A. Circadian rhythm sleep disorders: lessons from the blind. Sleep Medicine Reviews 2001; 5(3): 189-206

(4) Belpomme D., Vander Vorst A. et al. Le Livre Noir des Ondes. Ed. Marco Pietteur (2021) p. 322

(5) Belpomme D., Irigaray P. in Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance : What role for Electromagnetic Fields and Chemicals. 5th Paris Appeal Congress, 18th of May 2015, Royal Academy of Medicine, Belgium

(6) Touitou Y. et al. Evaluation de l’effet des champs électromagnétiques (50Hz) sur la sécrétion de mélatonine chez l’homme et le rat. Bull Acad Natl Med 2002 ; 186(9) :1625-39

(7) Crasson M. et al. Serum melatonin and urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin in major depression. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2004; 29(1): 1-12

(8) Alluri H. et al. Melatonin Preserves Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity and Permeability via Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 inhibition. PLoS one, 2016-journals.plos.org.

(9) Suafu Y. et al. Peroxynitrite decomposition catalyst prevents MMP activation and neurovascular injury after prolonged cerebral ischemia in rats. J Neurochem 2010; 115(5): 1266-76

(10) Daneman R., Prat A. The Blood Brain Barrier. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology 2015; 7(1): a020412