Medical Hydrology and Balneology: Environmental Aspects

Benefit of sunshine exposure in man
Falkenbach A (1)
(1) Bad Ischl, Austria
Albrecht.FALKENBACH@pensionsversicherung.at
In man, UV-exposure may cause both beneficial and damaging health effects. In
recent years possible benefits have gained growing attention, especially in osteology,
angiology, cardiology and oncology.
So far, almost all positive effects are considered to result from an improved Vitamin
D status, caused by UVB-induced cutanous production of previtamin D.
After isomerisation of previtamin D in the skin, 25-hydroxylation in the liver
and 1α-hydroxylation in the kidney, the active form 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol
may exert the beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of several diseases,
namely in rickets, osteomalacia and osteoporosis. Recent epidemiological studies
point at benefits in colon-, breast- and prostate-cancer and arterial hypertension.
Many more positive effects of UV-exposure and higher vitamin D levels are under
discussion, eg. an improved muscle function and a risk reduction of falls, improved
fetal brain development and cognitive function in the elderly, risk reduction for
metabolic diseases.
All beneficial effects through a sunshine-induced increase of vitamin D can be
achieved by exposure to suberythemal doses of UVB-light, which, however, is
deficient in northern Europe during wintertime. Humans at risk of vitamin D deficiency
may benefit from winter sojourns in countries with abundant sunshine.
Balnea
2012, núm. 6, 101
101
ISBN: 978-84-669-1887-0
978-84-669-3482-4