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Biphasic Dose Response in Low Level Light Therapy
Ying-Ying Huang, Aaron C.-H. Chen, James D. Carroll, Michael R. Hamblin
The use of low levels of visible or near infrared light for reducing pain, inflammation and edema, promoting healing of wounds, deeper tissues and nerves, and preventing cell death and tissue damage has been known for over forty years since the invention of lasers. Despite many reports of positive findings from experiments conducted in vitro, in animal models and in randomized controlled clinical trials, LLLT remains controversial in mainstream medicine. The biochemical mechanisms underlying the positive effects are incompletely understood, and the complexity of rationally choosing amongst a large number of illumination parameters such as wavelength, fluence, power density, pulse structure and treatment timing has led to the publication of a number of negative studies as well as many positive ones. A biphasic dose response has been frequently observed where low levels of light have a much better effect on stimulating and repairing tissues than higher levels of light. The so-called Arndt-Schulz curve is frequently used to describe this biphasic dose response. This review will cover the molecular and cellular mechanisms in LLLT, and describe some of our recent results in vitro and in vivo that provide scientific explanations for this biphasic dose response.
You can download the paper for free click here
Excellent paper. Congratulations James! Confirms what is seen in practice. You can’t hurry the process.
I have always been told that DNA protien is denatured at Laser powers at 10joules/cm2. Is this true??? Class IV therapy laser protocals all indicate > 30 joules/CM2. Is this not a clear reason not to use high powers???
MIke kim
no, not true. The problem is J/cm2 is a bad way to record dose. You would get more than 30J/cm2 after a brief period of sunbathing on a hot sunny day.
The risk of denaturing depends on power density (irradiance) W/cm2 not energy. I have not looked it up but if I had to guess I would say power densities in excess of say 10W/cm2 would cause denaturing. Maybe that is what you meant to write.