Red light therapy has recently received enormous interest as a non-invasive treatment for various health disorders. From the initial attention it gained in the role it plays in skin care and wound management, RLT is now being considered for its potential benefits in managing blood sugar levels. Given the fact that diabetes remains one of the significant burdening diseases to public health today, understanding the alternative and complementary therapies like RLT could open up new avenue for treatment and management.
What Is Red Light Therapy?
Red light therapy is a procedure of irradiation that employs low-level wavelengths of red light that penetrate the skin and, in terms of biology, cause changes in cells. This type of therapy usually uses light-emitting diode devices or lasers to deliver red light with specific wavelengths, typically between 630 and 670 nm. It is in this range of wavelengths distribution that a higher penetration of the skin and stimulation of cellular processes seem to be achieved.
To put it simply, RLT works through the action of a mechanism known as photobiomodulation. Under such modulation, what happens is that light, at certain wavelengths, interacts with cellular receptors, especially in mitochondria, to stimulate different biological effects. These effects include increased production of adenosine triphosphate, reduced oxidative stress, and enhanced cellular repair processes.
Red light therapy lowers blood glucose levels. Mitochondria supplies energy for important cellular processes by consuming oxygen and glucose to produce the energy-rich nucleoside adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Previous research has revealed that the span of long-wavelength light, approximately between 650-900 nm, covering visible to near-infrared frequency, can increase mitochondrial ATP production, lowering blood glucose and improving health and lifespan in animals.
In a bid to establish the effects of red light with a wavelength of 670 nm on blood glucose, 30 healthy individuals were randomized to either the 670 nm red light group or the placebo, which involved no light, in a respective ratio of n=15 for each group. No case of metabolic disorder was present, and they were not on any medication. The participants were required to undertake an oral glucose tolerance test; after which they were requested to measure the blood glucose levels every 15 minutes for a period of two hours. The ones exposed to the red light 45 minutes before the consumption of glucose showed a low peak blood glucose level and reduced total blood glucose during the two hours.
The result showed that light can modulate the activity of mitochondria, which impacts our bodies cellularly and physiologically. Red light exposure was found to lower the level of blood glucose after eating by just one 15-minute exposure in our study. Sunlight is well balanced in red and blue; however, today we exist in a world with little blue light, simply because even though we don't feel it, LED lights are dominant in blue and have almost no red in them.
This decreases mitochondrial function and the yield of ATP. If red light is absent, then prolonged exposure to blue light turns out to be potentially toxic because it may cause blood glucose fluctuations which might contribute, in the long term, to Diabetes and undermine health spans.
How RLT May Influence Blood Glucose Levels
More recent studies and research have looked into the effects of RLT on blood glucose level management, especially in the case of diabetes. Insulin sensitivity is defined as the responsiveness of an organism to the hormone with respect to maintaining the blood glucose level. Some studies have then proposed that RLT could enhance sensitivity to insulin through the reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation from cells. Higher sensitivity to insulin means that the cells of the body are capable of taking up more glucose from the blood stream, hence reducing overall blood glucose levels. Mitochondria are the energy-producing factories of the cell. Defects most commonly observed in people with diabetes include problems with the mitochondria, which ultimately cause the cells to produce lower energy than what is needed along with reduced glucose intake. RLT has been shown to enhance mitochondrial function, which may increase the cells' ability to process and use glucose.
Inflammation is a typical pathological feature of the disease diabetes that causes insulin resistance and high plasma glucose levels. The antecedent anti-inflammatory effects of RLT may decrease the levels of inflammatory biomarkers in the body. Consequently, RLT treatment might indirectly benefit glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity through the reduction of inflammation. Resultant common complications observed in diabetes include poor circulation and lessened oxygenation of the tissue. RLT has the capability to increase blood flow to tissues and improve oxygen delivery; hence, glucose uptake and its overall usage can also be enhanced. Scientific Evidence and Research Though the mentioned mechanisms for the role of RLT in lowering glucose levels are quite promising, research in this direction is currently in its infancy. A few recent preclinical and clinical studies have brought out preliminary evidence in the role of RLT in glucose metabolism.
For example, a study in patients with type 2 diabetes evaluated the impact of RLT in glucose metabolism. In the RLT-treated group, a significant decline in fasting blood glucose levels was observed compared with individuals using no therapy. A stronger improvement in insulin sensitivity within the RLT group was documented.
Contrarily, another study using diabetic animal models also showed that RLT could reduce blood glucose levels and improve insulin signaling pathways. These findings suggest that RLT may have a direct impact on the cellular mechanisms involved in glucose regulation. On the other hand, these are promising results, and much more comprehensive, larger, and realistic clinical trials are warranted to prove the utility and safety of RLT in controlling glucose levels in humans. Moreover, RLT cannot be used in isolation for the treatment of diabetes but as an adjunct therapy to complement other standard treatments like diet, exercise, and medication.
Another possible future application of RLT is as a complementary treatment for reducing glucose levels, most likely in diabetics. Through mechanisms such as increasing insulin sensitivity, improving mitochondrial function, and reducing inflammation, RLT may contribute to better glucose regulation and metabolic health. But there needs to be much more research done in this area, so any conclusive claims under this category would be premature. Patients should discuss RLT with their health providers before using it as part of their regime for diabetic management.