24 Oct 2019 --- Skin exposure to sunlight – specifically type B ultraviolet light (UVB) – can alter the gut microbiome in humans, according to a new study from the University of British Columbia (UBC), in Canada. Published in Frontiers in Microbiology, the research suggests that vitamin D, which the body naturally produces when exposed to sunlight, mediates a change in the microbiome. This could help explain the protective effect of UVB light in inflammatory diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The researchers note that the findings could point to novel ways to treat inflammatory gut diseases via phototherapy and vitamin D supplementation, but more research is warranted.
