TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of near-infrared light on well-being and health in human subjects with mild sleep-related complaints
T2 - A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study
AU - Giménez, Marina Cecilia
AU - Luxwolda, Michelle
AU - Van Stipriaan, Eila G.
AU - Bollen, Pauline P.
AU - Hoekman, Rieks L.
AU - Koopmans, Marthe A.
AU - Arany, Praveen R.
AU - Krames, Michael R.
AU - Berends, Anne C.
AU - Hut, Roelof A.
AU - Gordijn, Marijke C.M.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was funded by Seaborough Life Science B.V. Agreement 25092020.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors.
PY - 2023/1
Y1 - 2023/1
N2 - Modern urban human activities are largely restricted to the indoors, deprived of direct sunlight containing visible and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths at high irradiance levels. Therapeutic exposure to doses of red and NIR, known as photobiomodulation (PBM), has been effective for a broad range of conditions. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, we aimed to assess the effects of a PBM home set-up on various aspects of well-being, health, sleep, and circadian rhythms in healthy human subjects with mild sleep complaints. The effects of three NIR light (850 nm) doses (1, 4, or 6.5 J·cm−2) were examined against the placebo. Exposure was presented five days per week between 9:30 am and 12:30 pm for four consecutive weeks. The study was conducted in both summer and winter to include seasonal variation. The results showed PBM treatment only at 6.5 J·cm−2 to have consistent positive benefits on well-being and health, specifically improving mood, reducing drowsiness, reducing IFN-γ, and resting heart rate. This was only observed in winter. No significant effects on sleep or circadian rhythms were noted. This study provides further evidence that adequate exposure to NIR, especially during low sunlight conditions, such as in the winter, can be beneficial for human health and wellness.
AB - Modern urban human activities are largely restricted to the indoors, deprived of direct sunlight containing visible and near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths at high irradiance levels. Therapeutic exposure to doses of red and NIR, known as photobiomodulation (PBM), has been effective for a broad range of conditions. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, we aimed to assess the effects of a PBM home set-up on various aspects of well-being, health, sleep, and circadian rhythms in healthy human subjects with mild sleep complaints. The effects of three NIR light (850 nm) doses (1, 4, or 6.5 J·cm−2) were examined against the placebo. Exposure was presented five days per week between 9:30 am and 12:30 pm for four consecutive weeks. The study was conducted in both summer and winter to include seasonal variation. The results showed PBM treatment only at 6.5 J·cm−2 to have consistent positive benefits on well-being and health, specifically improving mood, reducing drowsiness, reducing IFN-γ, and resting heart rate. This was only observed in winter. No significant effects on sleep or circadian rhythms were noted. This study provides further evidence that adequate exposure to NIR, especially during low sunlight conditions, such as in the winter, can be beneficial for human health and wellness.
KW - heart rate
KW - human clinical trial
KW - immune system
KW - lighting
KW - mood
KW - near-infrared
KW - photobiomodulation
KW - sleep
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85146741690&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/biology12010060
DO - 10.3390/biology12010060
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85146741690
SN - 2079-7737
VL - 12
JO - Biology
JF - Biology
IS - 1
M1 - 60
ER -