Metabolic shifts induced by preventive phototherapy in the blue range of the spectrum during a high-latitude marine expedition

Abstract

This article presents combined results of two polar expeditions that took place in July and August, 2017 and 2019 on an «Alter Ego» yacht. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of transcutaneous phototherapy with blue light on the pattern of human metabolism during a fast transition from the conditions of temperate continental summer to the conditions of the Far North.
Methods. The participants of the expedition who constituted the experimental group daily used a light-emitting bracelet. The exposure included two 15-min sessions. Urine samples were collected at the beginning, middle and end of the expedition with 2-week intervals and analyzed with laser correlation spectroscopy.
Results. The pattern of metabolic shifts in the excretory system was shown to change. The increased contribution to light scattering of particles smaller than 75 nm indicated activation of catabolic processes.
Conclusion. Preventive phototherapy in the blue range of the spectrum prevents the development of anabolic shifts typically observed in sailors during long voyages.