Introduction: Recently, investigation about the effects of magnetic fields on human cardiovascular parameters becomes a subject of a public concern and private debate. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of static magnetic fields (SMFs) and extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on cardiovascular parameters such as LDL physicochemical modifications.

Materials & methods: LDL was separated from a pooled serum of 20 male volunteers by sequential ultracentrifugation. Then effect of SMFs and EMFs on LDL modification such as LDL aggregation and surface charge of LDL was investigated.

Findings: The results demonstrated that the static magnetic flux densities of 0.25 and 0.5 mT decrease, and static magnetic flux densities of 3 and 4 mT increase the zeta potential in comparison to the control. Weak ELF-EMFs of 0.125-0.5 mT cause to decrease in LDL zeta potential in a time and dose dependent manner while in moderate ELF-EMFs of 1-4 mT  LDL zeta potential was started to increase after the initial decrease at the first hour of exposure. All doses of SMF and ELF-EMF used in this research increased the LDL aggregation in a time and dose dependent manner.

Discussion & conclusions: It is concluded that weak and moderate SMFs and ELF-EMFs can alternate the tendency of LDL to aggregation and this alteration is dependent on the applied magnetics flux density and time of exposure. Static and electromagnetic fields in addition to their role in producing and stability of free radicals and promoting lipid peroxidation can influence the metabolism of lipoproteins and their interaction with other molecules such as apo lipoproteins, enzymes and receptors through the alteration of the LDL zeta potential and its particles tendency to aggregation. With regard to the effects of ELF-EMFs and moderate SMFs on LDL aggregation as important modifications of LDL that involved in the promotion and progression of atherosclerosis, these magnetic fields can be considered as a risk factor in CVD and atherosclerosis.