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 free-floating mitochondria following jugular LLLT