
Do This to Your Mitochondria for Maximum Energy | Dr Vladimir Heiskanen
In this interview, Dr. Vladimir Heiskanen, curator of the world's largest open-access database for photobiomodulation (PBM, often called red light therapy), discusses the complex and often misunderstood science behind this technology. He highlights that the clinical literature is full of nuances and contradictions, and there are no simple 'magic bullets'.
Basic Mechanisms of Action- Light and Cells: Red and near-infrared light is absorbed by various molecules within cells. The focus is on the mitochondria (the 'powerhouses' of the cell), especially the enzyme cytochrome c oxidase (CCO).
- Most Commonly Observed Effects: After irradiation, an increase in ATP levels (the cell's energy currency), slightly increased reactive oxygen species, and increased nitric oxide levels are often measured.
- No Universal Rule: The effects are context-dependent (cell type, time of day, cell health status). Effects are often more pronounced in stressed cells compared to healthy ones.
- Muscle Growth: Evidence is mixed. Studies on young people show positive effects on muscle growth from leg extension training, while studies on older adults did not show benefits over placebo.
- Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Data is inconsistent. There are indications of systemic effects (e.g., reduced inflammatory markers in blood after irradiating the lower back), but also studies showing no effect on systemic cytokines. Certain infections (e.g., COVID-19) might benefit.
- Systemic ('Remote') Effects: Evidence shows that irradiating one body part (e.g., abdomen) can have positive effects on distant sites (e.g., brain in Parkinson's models, heart in heart attack models).
- Skin and Connective Tissue: A promising application. Red light seems to improve fibroblast function, increase collagen synthesis, inhibit collagen breakdown, promote wound healing, and increase skin elasticity. High-quality randomized trials show benefits for wrinkles and photoaging.
- Safety: Compared to most drugs, red light therapy is surprisingly safe. Harm is very rare. Exception: In tumor research, both protective and growth-promoting effects (in ~20% of studies) have been reported. Caution is advised for sensitive areas (eyes, testes).
- The Big Unknown: There is no universally agreed-upon dosing protocol. The optimal dose varies greatly and depends on many factors.
- Key Parameters: Wavelength (commonly 660 nm and 830 nm, but many others), power density (mW/cm²), irradiation duration, energy (Joules), energy density (J/cm²), distance to the light source, session frequency, and duration.
- Estimated Guidelines (from Dr. Heiskanen):
- Superficial Tissues (Skin): Around 10 J/cm².
- Deep Tissues (Muscles): Around 100 J/cm² or more to compensate for absorption by the skin.
- Calculation: To convert power density (e.g., 100 mW/cm²) to energy density: Power density × Irradiation time (seconds) = J/cm².
- Darker Skin: Melanin absorbs some of the visible red light, meaning less energy reaches deeper layers. The effect is smaller for near-infrared light. However, there is no standardized method for dose adjustment based on skin color.
- Dr. Heiskanen curates the world's largest open-access database with over 9,600 PBM studies. It is free and accessible to everyone (Short link: https://bitly.com/pbmdatabase).






