London – Diabetics may soon have a new way to deal with blood sugar problems. Importantly, this solution does not require injections or drugs. red light.
Researchers in London have found that exposing the skin to 670 nanometers of red light increases energy production within the mitochondria, the “powerhouses” of cells. What does it have to do with lowering blood sugar levels? The study authors explain that mitochondria break down sugars to produce chemical energy that cells use.
Their research shows that red light stimulation increases mitochondrial function and 27.7% decrease With blood sugar levels. Additionally, peak blood sugar spikes were reduced by 7.5%.
“It is clear that light affects mitochondrial function and that this affects our bodies at a cellular and physiological level. Our research shows that with just a single 15-minute exposure to red light, “We showed that it can reduce postprandial blood sugar levels,” says Dr Michael Powner, senior lecturer in neurobiology at the School of Health and Psychological Sciences at City University London. said the study’s co-authors in a media release.
Previous studies have shown that long-wavelength light between 650 and 900 nanometers (including the visible to near-infrared range) can increase mitochondrial energy production. This requires more oxygen and glucose to produce energy molecules. adenosine triphosphate (ATP). According to the authors, increased ATP production would trigger changes in signaling throughout the body, improving health and longevity.
The use of radiation has also been effective in other medical treatments. Let’s take cancer radiation as an example. When doctors use radiation therapy to shrink tumors, secondary tumors in other parts of the body also shrink in size. Additionally, experiments have shown that shining 670 nanometer light on the backs of mice with Parkinson’s disease or diabetic retinopathy improves ATP production.
In the current experiment, the authors enrolled 30 healthy participants to study the effects of 670 nanometer red light on blood sugar. Participants were randomly divided into two groups. One group was exposed to 670 nanometer red light for 15 minutes, and the other was a placebo group (no light for 15 minutes). All participants were healthy and had no metabolic abnormalities or were taking medication.
Volunteers completed an oral glucose tolerance test and then had to record their blood sugar levels every 15 minutes for two hours. People who were exposed to red light 45 minutes before ingesting glucose had lower peak blood sugar levels and lower total blood sugar levels over a two-hour time frame.
Although the study was conducted only in healthy people, Dr. Powner points out that the findings could help people with diabetes, especially in preventing blood sugar levels from rising too quickly after meals. The research team also believes that short-term red light therapy could also help our technology-obsessed world. Computers and other electronic devices emit blue light, which can reduce mitochondrial function and cellular energy production.
“Our internal environment is red-starved. Prolonged exposure to blue light can be toxic without red light. Blue light itself has negative effects on physiological functions and can disrupt blood sugar levels. “In the long term, it can lead to diabetes and reduce health spans,” says Glenn Jeffrey, professor of neuroscience at the UCL Institute of Eye Research.
While research continues into the effects of red light therapy, Jeffrey advises people to leave their electronic devices and go outside. Since sunlight has a balance of red and blue, spending more time in the sun is one way to offset the harmful effects of blue LED lights.
This study Biophotonics Journal.
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