Sunlight Exposure and Phototherapy: Perspectives for Healthy Aging in an Era of COVID-19

Toshiaki Nakano, Kuei-Chen Chiang, Chien-Chih Chen, Po-Jung Chen, Chia-Yun Lai, Li-Wen Hsu, Naoya Ohmori, Takeshi Goto, Chao-Long Chen and Shigeru Goto
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Toshiaki Nakano: Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan
Kuei-Chen Chiang: Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan
Chien-Chih Chen: Liver Transplantation Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan
Po-Jung Chen: Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan
Chia-Yun Lai: Liver Transplantation Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan
Li-Wen Hsu: Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan
Naoya Ohmori: Faculty of Nursing, Josai International University, Togane 283-8555, Japan
Takeshi Goto: Faculty of Nursing, Josai International University, Togane 283-8555, Japan
Chao-Long Chen: Liver Transplantation Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan
Shigeru Goto: Liver Transplantation Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 20, 1-16

Abstract: Most humans depend on sunlight exposure to satisfy their requirements for vitamin D 3 . However, the destruction of the ozone layer in the past few decades has increased the risk of skin aging and wrinkling caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which may also promote the risk of skin cancer development. The promotion of public health recommendations to avoid sunlight exposure would reduce the risk of skin cancer, but it would also enhance the risk of vitamin D 3 insufficiency/deficiency, which may cause disease development and progression. In addition, the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic may further reduce sunlight exposure due to stay-at-home policies, resulting in difficulty in active and healthy aging. In this review article, we performed a literature search in PubMed and provided an overview of basic and clinical data regarding the impact of sunlight exposure and vitamin D 3 on public health. We also discuss the potential mechanisms and clinical value of phototherapy with a full-spectrum light (notably blue, red, and near-infrared light) as an alternative to sunlight exposure, which may contribute to combating COVID-19 and promoting active and healthy aging in current aged/superaged societies.

Keywords: sunlight; phototherapy; vitamin D 3; alarmins; microbiota; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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