Sunlight: Time for a Rethink?

• Published in: Journal of investigative dermatology Vol. 144; no. 8; pp. 1724 - 1732
• Main Author: Weller, Richard B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.08.2024
• Subjects: Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - prevention & control; Environment and public health; Health status; Humans; Mortality; Nitric oxide; Skin - metabolism; Skin - radiation effects; Skin Neoplasms - epidemiology; Skin Neoplasms - etiology; Skin Neoplasms - prevention & control; Sunlight; Ultraviolet Rays - adverse effects; UVR; Vitamin D - administration & dosage; Vitamin D - blood; Vitamin D - metabolism; NO; T2DM; Mortality; CI; MS; BP; UVR; SARS-CoV-2; UCA; Health status; Nitric oxide; UK; Environment and public health
• ISSN: 0022-202X; 1523-1747; 1523-1747
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.12.027

UVR is a skin carcinogen, yet no studies link sun exposure to increased all-cause mortality. Epidemiological studies from the United Kingdom and Sweden link sun exposure with reduced all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality. Vitamin D synthesis is dependent on UVB exposure. Individuals with higher serum levels of vitamin D are healthier in many ways, yet multiple trials of oral vitamin D supplementation show little benefit. Growing evidence shows that sunlight has health benefits through vitamin D–independent pathways, such as photomobilization of nitric oxide from cutaneous stores with reduction in cardiovascular morbidity. Sunlight has important systemic health benefit as well as risks. [Display omitted]