Award to our Anne Berends for best Scientific Publication at LpS Digital
Life Science / Sunled
Clinical study results are published
Biology, an international, peer-reviewed open access journal by MDPI (the Multidisciplinair Digital Publishing Institute), has published our article: “Effects of near-infrared light on well-being and health in human subjects with mild sleep-related complaints: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study”.
Summary
In Western societies, people spend the vast majority of their lives indoors. Consequently, we are virtually never exposed regularly to sunlight, missing out on many of its benefits.
Natural sunlight contains visible and non-visible light. Both play key roles in human health and well-being. In Seaborough’s latest study, the non-visible near-infrared light has been shown to be beneficial for human health and well-being.
The effects of morning exposure to near-infrared light 5 days per week for 4 consecutive weeks, was investigated in a group of healthy individuals with mild sleep complaints. We observed consistent beneficial effects on several aspects of well-being and health, but no significant improvements of sleep or circadian rhythms were observed. The positive effects were significant in the winter months, when sufficient exposure to natural sunlight is even more challenging.
The present study investigated rather low near-infrared light levels, which allows easy incorporation into everyday household, via personal lighting and other devices.
Because of peoples’ indoor lifestyle and the need for more healthy buildings, the current results may open new ways of creating an optimal environment for a healthier society by preventing some negative effects produced by the lack of sunlight.
