It likewise points to the health risks of extended blue light exposure from LEDs, emphasizing the need for a balance in between red and blue light to preserve health.Shining a specific frequency of red light on an individuals back for 15 minutes can minimize blood sugar levels, according to a new research study from City, University of London and UCL.The scientists found that 670 nanometres (nm) of red light stimulated energy production within mitochondria, the tiny powerhouses within cells, leading to increased usage of glucose. 670 nm light shone selectively on to the backs of mice in previous studies has actually been shown to result in enhancements in ATP that improve signs in both a design of Parkinsons disease and a model of diabetic retinopathy.The Studys Approach and FindingsTo explore the effect of 670 nm red light on blood glucose, the scientists recruited 30 healthy participants, who were then randomized into two groups: 15 in the 670 nm red light group, and 15 in the placebo (no light) group. People who received red light exposure 45 minutes prior to drinking glucose displayed a lowered peak blood glucose level and reduced overall blood glucose during the two hours.Dr Powner, who was the lead author of the study, stated: “It is clear that light affects the way mitochondria function and this impacts our bodies at a physiological and cellular level.
A study highlights the potential of 670 nm red light to stimulate mitochondrial energy production and decrease blood sugar levels, offering an appealing non-invasive technique for diabetes management. It also points to the health threats of extended blue light direct exposure from LEDs, stressing the requirement for a balance in between blue and red light to protect health.Shining a particular frequency of red light on a persons back for 15 minutes can reduce blood glucose levels, according to a new research study from City, University of London and UCL.The scientists discovered that 670 nanometres (nm) of traffic signal promoted energy production within mitochondria, the tiny powerhouses within cells, leading to increased consumption of glucose. In particular, it resulted in a 27.7% decrease in blood glucose levels following glucose consumption, and it decreased maximum glucose spiking by 7.5%. While the study was conducted in healthy people, the non-invasive, non-pharmacological strategy has the prospective to have an impact on diabetes control after meals, as it can minimize damaging changes of blood glucose in the body that add to aging.Concerns About Blue Light ExposureThe study also highlights the considerable long-lasting effects for human health, including the potential dysregulation of blood sugar level posed by prolonged exposure to blue light. Offered the prominence of LED lighting and the fact that LEDs produce towards the blue end of the spectrum with really little red, the authors suggest that this may be a potential public health concern. The research study has actually been released in the Journal of Biophotonics.Mitochondria provide energy for essential cellular processes, utilizing oxygen and glucose to produce the energy-rich nucleoside adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Previous research study has developed that long-wavelength light between roughly 650-900 nm (covering the visible through to the near-infrared range) can increase mitochondrial production of ATP which decreases blood sugar and likewise enhances health/lifespan in animals.The authors Dr Michael Powner, Senior Lecturer in Neurobiology in the School of Health & & Psychological Sciences at City, and Professor Glen Jeffery, Professor of Neuroscience in the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, also say that this improvement in ATP production can trigger signalling changes that are sent throughout the body.They suggest that it may be moderating the abscopal result, which refers to the phenomenon in cancer treatment where specific irradiation of a main tumor can lead to shrinkage of secondary tumors found in a various part of the body. Similarly, 670 nm light shone selectively on to the backs of mice in previous studies has been revealed to lead to improvements in ATP that improve symptoms in both a model of Parkinsons illness and a design of diabetic retinopathy.The Studys Approach and FindingsTo explore the impact of 670 nm red light on blood sugar, the researchers recruited 30 healthy participants, who were then randomized into 2 groups: 15 in the 670 nm red light group, and 15 in the placebo (no light) group. They had no recognized metabolic conditions and were not taking medication.Participants were then asked to do an oral glucose tolerance test and record their blood sugar levels every 15 minutes over the next 2 hours. Individuals who received red light direct exposure 45 minutes prior to drinking glucose displayed a lowered peak blood sugar level and lowered overall blood glucose throughout the 2 hours.Dr Powner, who was the lead author of the study, said: “It is clear that light affects the way mitochondria function and this impacts our bodies at a physiological and cellular level. Our study has actually revealed that we can utilize a single, 15-minute direct exposure to traffic signal to reduce blood glucose levels after eating.”While this has just been done in healthy individuals in this paper, it has the possible to impact diabetes control going forward, as it could assist to reduce potentially destructive glucose spikes in the body after meals.”Professor Jeffery stated: “Sunlight has a balance between red and blue, but we now live in a world where blue light is dominant since although we do not see it, LED lights are dominant in blue and have nearly no red in them. This reduces mitochondrial function and ATP production. Our internal environments are red-starved. Long-term direct exposure to blue light is potentially hazardous without red. Blue light by itself impacts badly on physiology and can drive interrupted blood sugars that might in the long run contribute to diabetes and undermine health spans.”Pre-1990, we all had incandescent lighting which was okay due to the fact that it had the balance of red and blue similar to sunshine, however there is a possible health period time bomb in the change to LEDs in an aging population. This can partially be corrected by spending more time in sunshine.”Reference: “Light stimulation of mitochondria reduces blood sugar levels” by Michael B. Powner and Glen Jeffery, 20 February 2024, Journal of Biophotonics.DOI: 10.1002/ jbio.202300521 The research was sponsored by Sight Research UK.
