Jugular-Applied Coherent Low-Level Laser Therapy Enhances Systemic Mitochondrial Metabolic Function and Antioxidant Response

This controlled experimental study evaluated whether a single session of jugular-applied coherent low-level laser therapy (LLLT) could modulate mitochondrial metabolic function and redox balance in dogs with early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD). Laser-treated dogs demonstrated a marked reduction in the lactate-to-pyruvate (L/P) ratio (−47%) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS; −16%), accompanied by significant upregulation of key antioxidant enzymes (SOD +20%, CAT +36%, GSH +25%) relative to placebo controls. These results suggest that the observed improvements in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and systemic antioxidant responses were likely mediated by the activation of circulating freefloating mitochondria following jugular LLLT.