Shining a specific frequency of red light onto a person’s back for 15 minutes can lower blood sugar levels, according to new research from City, University of London and UCL.
Researchers found that 670 nm red light stimulates energy production within mitochondria, tiny power plants within cells, leading to increased consumption of glucose. Specifically, blood sugar levels after glucose ingestion decreased by 27.7%, and maximum glucose spikes decreased by 7.5%.
Although the study was conducted in healthy people, this non-invasive, non-pharmacological technique could help manage postprandial diabetes by reducing harmful blood sugar fluctuations in the body that contribute to aging. may have an impact.
The study also highlights significant long-term effects on human health, including potential blood sugar dysregulation caused by prolonged exposure to blue light. Given the prominence of LED lighting in modern technology and environments, and the fact that LEDs emit toward the blue end of the spectrum, with very little red, the authors conclude that this is a potential public health issue. suggests that it is possible. This study Biophotonics Journal.
Mitochondria use oxygen and glucose to produce the energy-rich nucleoside adenosine triphosphate (ATP), providing energy for important cellular processes. Previous studies have shown that long wavelength light of approximately 650-900 nm (ranging from the visible to near-infrared range) increases ATP production by mitochondria, lowers blood sugar levels, and improves health and longevity in animals. has been proven.
Authors Dr Michael Powner, Senior Lecturer in Neurobiology, School of Health and Psychological Sciences, City University, and Professor Glenn Jeffrey, Professor of Neuroscience, UCL Eye Institute, also suggest that this improvement in ATP production may trigger changes in signal transduction. It has said. It is transmitted throughout the body.
They suggest that this may mediate the abscopal effect. The abscopal effect refers to a phenomenon in cancer treatment in which specific radiation exposure to a primary tumor causes the shrinkage of secondary tumors in other parts of the body. Similarly, previous studies have shown that 670 nm light selectively applied to the backs of mice leads to improvements in ATP and ameliorates symptoms in both Parkinson’s disease and diabetic retinopathy models. Masu.
To investigate the effects of 670 nm red light on blood sugar, researchers recruited 30 healthy participants and randomly divided them into two groups: 15 participants in the 670 nm red light group; and 15 people in the placebo (no light) group. They had no known metabolic diseases (such as diabetes) and were not taking any medications.
Participants were then asked to perform an oral glucose tolerance test (drinking glucose dissolved in water) and record their blood sugar levels every 15 minutes over the next two hours. People who were exposed to red light 45 minutes before drinking glucose showed a 2-hour reduction in peak blood sugar levels and a reduction in total blood sugar levels.
It is clear that light affects mitochondrial function and this affects our bodies at a cellular and physiological level. Our study showed that a single 15-minute exposure to red light can lower postprandial blood sugar levels.
“Although this is only done in healthy people in this paper, it may have implications for future diabetes management as it may help reduce potentially harmful glucose spikes in the body after meals. There is a possibility.”
Dr. Michael Powner, lead author of the study
Professor Jeffrey said: “Sunlight maintains a balance of red and blue, which we cannot see, but LED lights are predominantly blue and contain very little red, so currently we We live in a world dominated by blue light. Mitochondrial function and ATP production. Therefore, our internal environment is starved for red. Long-term exposure to blue light is potentially toxic without red. .Blue light itself can have a negative effect on physiological functions and cause the destruction of blood sugar levels, which in the long run can lead to diabetes and impair healthy life expectancy.
“Before 1990, we all used incandescent lights, which was OK because they had a balance of blue and red similar to sunlight, but with an aging population, LEDs are becoming more and more popular. Change has a potential health lifespan-shortening time bomb that can be partially corrected by spending more time in the sun. ”
This research was sponsored by Sight Research UK.
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