Low-intensity laser favors muscle regeneration in a malnourished and recovered experimental model

ABSTRACT Low-Level Laser Therapy - LLLT is used frequently on muscle lesions, but needs to be investigated in a malnutrition model. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of LLLT on muscle regeneration of rats subjected to malnutrition and protein recovery. Forty recently weaned Wistar rats were used, divided into control group (C), subjected to a normal-protein diet (14% casein), and the malnourished group (D), subjected to a low-protein diet (6% casein) for 45 days and to a normal-protein diet until the end of the experiment. Subsequently, the right tibialis anterior muscle was subjected to cryogenic cooling and treated with LLLT (830 nm AsGaAl, 30 mW, 20 J/cm²), three times a week, for 7 and 21 days. There was a reduction of the inflammation/regeneration area in the C21 group compared to D21 (p