Sun’s Benefits Outweigh Risks

Exposure to sunlight may help control blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease.
Dermatologists have been warning us for years that sun exposure is dangerous because it increases the risk of several skin cancers. New research from the University of Edinburgh reveals that ultraviolet light converts nitrate compounds in our skin to nitric oxide, which helps relax blood vessels and lowers blood pressure. The researchers actually used tanning lamps so that they could have a placebo treatment. The study volunteers could not tell which lamps had had their UV output blocked.
Skin exposed to sunlight produces vitamin D, and adequate vitamin D has been linked to lower blood pressure. This research suggests, however, that sunlight may have other important biological benefits. The dermatologists who conducted the study suggest that the advantages of sun exposure for the heart may outweigh the risks of skin cancer.
For more information about vitamin D and its many effects in the body, we suggest our Guide to Vitamin D Deficiency.
[Journal of Investigative Dermatology, online, April 15, 2013]