Dr. Glenn Jeffrey's research indicates that red light and near-infrared light impact mitochondria positively, while blue light impacts mitochondria negatively.
Posted by The Charlie Kirk Show, Checked
- Sources
- 6 support2 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 72%
The Charlie Kirk ShowAug 5, 2026
UCL neuroscientist Glen Jeffery's research, as reported across several sources, finds that red and near-infrared light benefit mitochondria while short-wavelength blue light impairs them, matching the claim's core assertion. The sources spell the name 'Jeffery' rather than 'Jeffrey', which is a minor spelling variant for the same researcher, and a McGill critique describes his program skeptically without disputing these findings.
Our two reads of who says this, and how, disagree, so it counts as the post's own claim.
What was said
… How much i mean, how much of our modern health, because I know there's so many areas of health, but how much of our modern health do you think is actually tied in our problems are tied to this, this light issue? So much. Look into Dr. Glenn Jeffrey. Look at his research on the mitochondria. Since you guys are talking mitochondria, look at how red light and near infrared impacts mitochondria positive, and blue light specifically impacts mitochondria negative. And our indoor environments are completely devoid of red and infrared light since we got rid of the incandescent bulb, and we are in these blue rich, heavy environments that are actually slowing down our mitochondria, slowing down our metabolism, and it's, …
The Charlie Kirk Show · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. A UCL press-style report and a 2022 AAO article quote Jeffery saying red and long wavelengths improve mitochondrial function while short wavelengths (deep blues) reduce energy production.[3][4]
Supports. Jeffery's 2025 Huberman Lab episode description and a Japanese-style interview summary state that long-wavelength red, near-infrared and infrared light enhance mitochondrial function and that LED/blue light can impair it.[5][6]
Supports. A 2026 UCL-linked report says mitochondria are 'pretty happy in red light and... hammered by blue light', and a The European piece quotes Jeffery finding red to near-infrared light had a positive effect while deep blue (420–450 nm) impaired mitochondrial function.[4][7]
Supports. A peer-reviewed primary study on Drosophila found that 420nm light significantly reduced mitochondrial complex activity and increased membrane permeability, supporting the harm from blue wavelengths.[2]
Context. A McGill critical-thinking piece describes Jeffery's research program as an attempt to show red light is good and blue light is bad via mitochondria, and questions the strength of one LED study, but does not dispute the mitochondrial findings themselves.[8]
Context. Lead Stories' fact check addresses a different claim (LEDs disrupting hydrogen flow) and does not bear on the mitochondrial claim.[1]
Sources
8 sources: 1 fact-checker, 1 primary, 6 not rated
- 1Health: January 2024 | Lead Storiesleadstories.com · fact-checker · cited for: context
- 2Mitochondria are specifically vulnerable to 420nm light in drosophila which undermines their function and is associated with reduced fly mobilitypmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov · primary source · cited for: supports
- 3Red Light Improves Vision of Aging Eyeaao.org · not rated · cited for: supports
- 4White LEDs threaten health, reveals UCL studyribaj.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 5Using Red Light to Improve Metabolism & the Harmful ...hubermanlab.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 6Red Light Therapy VS Daylight: Blood Sugar Regulation, Metabolism, + Eye Health | Dr. Glen Jeffreyyoutube.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 7UCL researchers warn LED lighting may be damaging our ...the-european.eu · not rated · cited for: supports
- 8Blue Light Vs. Red Lightmcgill.ca · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
Related claims
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