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Photobiomodulation effect on local hemoglobin concentration assessed by near-infrared spectroscopy in humans

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Abstract

Exposure of biological tissue to photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) seems to increase the oxygen availability and mitochondrial electrochemical activity. With the advancement of new technologies, such as near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), information can be obtained about the balance between oxygen utilization and delivery by assessing local oxy- ([O2Hb]) and deoxy-myohemoglobin ([HHb]) concentrations, both measured in micromolars (μM). Consequently, NIRS can be used to study (“in vivo”) PBMT effects on the oxidative system, including oxygen availability. Thus, the main objective of the present study was to use NIRS to investigate the acute effects of PBMT by light-emitting diode (LED) on the oxygen delivery and utilization in humans. Twelve healthy young participants were treated with a LED device (850 nm, 50 mW, 2 J) and placebo applied over the proximal third of the flexor carpi ulnaris muscle of the left or right forearm selected in a random order. The LED was applied in direct contact with skin and the device was switched on for 40 s in 4 different interventions (I1, I2, I3 and I4) with a 3-min interval between interventions. The placebo condition was considered as the period before the first PBMT. The NIRS device was used to evaluate the relative changes in [O2Hb] and [HHb] before and after placebo and interventions. We found that PBMT statistically increased the [O2Hb] in 0.39 μM. These results demonstrate the potential of PBMT to increase oxygen availability.

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Data availability

The dataset generated during the current study is available in the figshare® digital repository, https://figshare.com/articles/Linares_Dataset/7396085 or can be downloaded from the Dataset 1 file.

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Financial support

This study was financed in part by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Brazil - CAPES (Code 001) to SNL; by São Paulo State Research Foundation - FAPESP (grant 2013/07953-3 to AMC, and 2017/09639-5 and 2018/19016-8 to TB), and by National Council for Scientific and Technological Development – CNPq (grant 311938/2013-2) to AMC. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiovascular Physical Therapy Laboratory, Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil

    Stephanie Nogueira Linares, Thomas Beltrame, Gabriela Aguiar Mesquita Galdino & Aparecida Maria Catai

  2. Institute of Computing, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

    Thomas Beltrame

  3. Biomedical Engineering Postgraduate Program, Universidade Brasil, São Paulo, Brazil

    Cleber Ferraresi

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  1. Stephanie Nogueira Linares
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Correspondence to Thomas Beltrame.

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Linares, S.N., Beltrame, T., Ferraresi, C. et al. Photobiomodulation effect on local hemoglobin concentration assessed by near-infrared spectroscopy in humans. Lasers Med Sci 35, 641–649 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-019-02861-x

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