ATP

ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the universal cellular energy currency that mitochondria produce continuously day and night, and without which literally no biological process in the body could occur.

ATP, fully known as adenosine triphosphate, is a molecule that biology defines as the universal currency of cellular energy. Every muscle movement, every electrical impulse in the brain, every cell repair, every hormone the body produces requires ATP. Without it, nothing in the body happens. That is why ATP is one of the most important concepts in the Mitochondriak® philosophy, forming the foundation of health and vitality.

Where and how ATP is produced

The vast majority of ATP, specifically more than 90 percent, is produced directly in the mitochondria through a process called oxidative phosphorylation. This process takes place in the inner mitochondrial membrane, where a system of enzyme complexes, known as the respiratory chain (electron transport chain), transfers electrons across four complexes (I, II, III, IV) and creates a proton gradient.

This gradient drives ATP synthase, an enzymatic “motor” in the inner mitochondrial membrane, which assembles ATP molecules from ADP (adenosine diphosphate) and inorganic phosphate (Pi). One cycle of the Krebs cycle and the respiratory chain produces, under optimal mitochondrial function, 30 to 32 ATP molecules from a single glucose molecule. A small amount of ATP is also produced in the cytoplasm through glycolysis, but this represents only a fraction of the total production. [R]

Why modern humans often lack ATP

Lack of energy is not always about how many calories we consume. Even with sufficient nutrients, mitochondria may not be able to efficiently convert them into ATP. There are several reasons for this, and most are directly related to modern lifestyle:

• Lack of natural light: the red and near-infrared components of sunlight directly stimulate the enzyme Cytochrome C oxidase in mitochondria, increasing ATP production. Modern indoor lifestyles deprive us of this light.
• Chronic oxidative stress: excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) damages the mitochondrial membrane and slows down the respiratory chain.
• Deuterium: a heavy isotope of hydrogen in food and water slows the rotation of ATP synthase and reduces overall ATP production.
• Disrupted circadian rhythm: mitochondria have their own biological rhythm that regulates when and how much ATP they produce. Blue light at night and irregular sleep disrupt this rhythm.
• Aging: ATP production in mitochondria naturally declines with age, manifesting as chronic fatigue and slower regeneration.

Jaroslav Lachký describes it simply: "When you feel like you're doing everything right and still have no energy, the problem is almost always at the mitochondrial level. Not in what you eat, but in whether your mitochondria can turn food into ATP."

How red light increases ATP production

This is one of the best-documented mechanisms of photobiomodulation. Red and near-infrared light in the range of 630 to 1000 nm is absorbed by the enzyme Cytochrome C oxidase (CCO), which is the fourth complex of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. After photon absorption, a cascade of events is triggered:

• CCO regains its ability to transfer electrons to oxygen because light photodissociates inhibitory nitric oxide (NO), which had been blocking the enzyme’s active site.
• Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) increases, directly driving ATP synthase to rotate faster and produce more ATP.
• Oxygen consumption in complex IV increases, which is measurable biochemical evidence of enhanced activity.

Specifically, research published in 2024 in the Journal of Biophotonics found that a 15-minute exposure to light at 670 nm reduced post-meal blood glucose spikes by 27.7 percent compared to a control group. The mechanism was directly linked to increased mitochondrial ATP production and higher glucose utilization by cells. [R]

Light at wavelengths of 810 nm and 850 nm (NIR) penetrates deeper into tissues and organs, where it stimulates ATP production in mitochondria of muscles, joints, and even the brain through the same mechanism. [R]

Related terms

• Mitochondria: organelles in every cell where more than 90 percent of ATP production takes place.
• Respiratory chain: a system of enzyme complexes in the inner mitochondrial membrane that drives ATP synthase.
• ATP synthase: an enzymatic “motor” in mitochondria that physically assembles ATP molecules from ADP and phosphate using the proton gradient.
• Photobiomodulation: therapy using red and NIR light, whose primary documented effect is increased ATP production.
• Cytochrome C oxidase (CCO): a mitochondrial photoreceptor that absorbs red and NIR light and acts as the primary trigger for increased ATP synthesis.
• ADP (adenosine diphosphate): the “depleted” form of ATP. After the cell uses ATP for work, ADP is formed and mitochondria recharge it back into ATP.
• Oxidative stress: damages the mitochondrial membrane and reduces the efficiency of ATP production.

Frequently asked questions about ATP

What is ATP in simple terms?

ATP is the “battery” of every cell in the body. Mitochondria recharge it using glucose, fats, and oxygen. When a cell needs to perform any function (movement, thinking, healing), it uses this battery and ATP breaks down back into ADP. Mitochondria immediately begin recharging it. A healthy adult regenerates an amount of ATP equal to their body weight each day.

What happens when the body has low ATP?

A lack of ATP primarily manifests as chronic fatigue, slow recovery after exertion, reduced concentration, and an overall feeling of heaviness. At the cellular level, it means cells cannot repair damage efficiently, the immune system works more slowly, and inflammatory processes are harder to regulate. Long-term low ATP production is associated with accelerated tissue aging.

How to naturally increase ATP production?

The most effective proven approaches include regular exposure to red and NIR light (red light therapy), sufficient quality sleep (mitochondria regenerate most intensively during deep sleep), movement (exercise increases the number and efficiency of mitochondria), grounding (earthing), which reduces oxidative stress, and reducing deuterium intake.

What is the difference between ATP and energy from food?

Food (glucose, fats, proteins) is the raw material. ATP is the finished product that the cell directly uses. Food alone is not sufficient for the cell—it must first be processed by mitochondria into ATP. That is why a person can have enough calories in their diet and still suffer from chronic fatigue if their mitochondria are not functioning efficiently.

Is red light related to ATP production?

Yes, directly. Red light (630 to 670 nm) and near-infrared light (810 to 850 nm) are absorbed by the enzyme Cytochrome C oxidase in mitochondria, triggering increased ATP production. This is the primary, scientifically documented mechanism of photobiomodulation, supported by thousands of studies in the PubMed database. That is why Mitochondriak® devices are designed with wavelengths that maximize this mechanism.

Summary

ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the universal cellular energy currency produced mainly in mitochondria through the respiratory chain and ATP synthase. Without ATP, no biological activity in the body is possible. Red and NIR light therapy increases ATP production by stimulating Cytochrome C oxidase, which is one of the best-documented mechanisms of photobiomodulation.

Want to support ATP production in your mitochondria? Check out our Mitochondriak® red light therapy devices or visit the product selection assistant.

Scientific studies and sources

• Hamblin MR. Mechanisms and mitochondrial redox signaling in photobiomodulation. Photochem Photobiol. 2018;94(2):199-212. PubMed PMID: 29211238
• de Freitas LF, Hamblin MR. Proposed mechanisms of photobiomodulation or low-level light therapy. IEEE J Sel Top Quantum Electron. 2016;22(3):7000417. PMC5215870
• Powner MB, et al. Light stimulation of mitochondria reduces blood glucose levels. Journal of Biophotonics. 2024. PubMed PMID: 38206102
• Tichauer T, et al. Mitochondrial mechanisms of photobiomodulation in context of new data about multiple roles of ATP. Photomed Laser Surg. 2010;28(2):159-163. PubMed PMID: 20374017