Published in Health and Place, new data-led research suggests that increasing exposure to UV radiation – which is found in sunlight – could outweigh the risks and improve life expectancy for people living in areas with limited sunshine, such as in certain regions of the UK.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh analysed anonymised health data from 395,000 people across the UK and found that higher levels of UV exposure were associated with a drop in deaths from cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Experts emphasise that precautionary measures should still be taken to protect the skin from UV when levels are high, to prevent sunburn and the development of skin cancer. However, adapting public health advice to reflect both the risks and benefits of UV exposure may help to reduce deaths caused by cancer and cardiovascular disease for those in low-sunlight countries, the research team says.
Professor Richard Weller, from the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for Inflammation Research, said:
“Dermatologists have traditionally only considered possible harm to the skin caused by sunlight, much of which dates from the experience of white-skinned individuals in sunny countries such as Australia. When the UV index is very high, protecting skin is important. However, this research shows that in the UK, the balance of benefit and risk from sunlight exposure is probably very different from that in sunnier countries.”
Genetic and health information from the UK BioBank – an anonymised database of health details from volunteers – was used to examine the UV exposure of people living in different parts of the UK. Participants were restricted to those of white European descent, due to the role skin pigmentation plays in the body’s response to UV exposure.
To identify those exposed to higher UV levels, the team looked at the participants’ sunbed usage as well as their geographical location, to calculate their average annual exposure to solar energy. The findings were also adjusted for other factors that may influence health, such as smoking, exercise, social deprivation and gender.
People living in locations with higher levels of UV, such as Cornwall, were linked to being at a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer by 19% and 12% respectively, compared to those living in low-sunlight areas, such as Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Sunbed use was found to reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular disease by 23% and cancer by 14%, compared to non-users. However, the team noted that this finding may reflect broader sun-seeking behaviour, as people who use sunbeds may also seek out greater sun exposure.
Those with a higher estimated UV exposure had a slightly increased risk of being diagnosed with melanoma – a type of skin cancer – but their risk of death from the condition was not raised.
As the study is based on UK data from a white European population, the findings are most relevant to similar groups living in places with low-sunlight. Further research is required into locations with higher levels of UV radiation to build a clearer picture of the potential health benefits, says the team.
Professor Chris Dibben, from the University of Edinburgh’s School of GeoSciences, said:
“Our paper adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that in lower light environments, relatively higher exposure to UV is good for your health. Though there may be an increased risk of skin cancer incidence with higher UV exposure, this risk appears to be outweighed by a larger reduction in the risk of death from cancer and cardiovascular related disease.”
