Sunlight changes the gut microbiome

When the sun interacts with light on the skin, that alter the bacteria composition in the intestine, as a new study from the University of British Columbia shows. The cause of the Vitamin D formed in the skin during UV exposure is presumably because in people who regularly take Vitamin D supplements, had the UV-irradiation has no effect.

The study shows for the first time, that UVB rays can alter the gut microbiome in humans. The analysis, in the journal "Frontiers in Microbiology" was released, could explain the protective effect of UV-light in inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease.

Within a week, in the Winter of 21 healthy women were given three one-minute sessions of whole-body UVB radiation. That was enough already, in order to increase the microbial diversity in your gut significantly. However, this effect only occurred when the test subjects during the study, no Vitamin D supplements income.

Study leader Professor Bruce Vallance said: "Prior to the UVB exposure, these women have a less varied and balanced intestinal microbiome than women who regularly Vitamin D supplements income. The UVB exposure increased the diversity of their Multiple to a level that was not different from the group, the Vitamin D supplemented and whose Microbiome was not significantly changed."

The largest effect of an increase in Lachnospiraceae bacteria after exposure to UVB light was associated with Vitamin D Status was. This indicates that the changes in the gut multiple after UVB radiation are caused, at least in part by Vitamin D.

ZOU