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Sun-induced production of vitamin D3 throughout 1 year in tropical and subtropical regions: relationship with latitude, cloudiness, UV-B exposure and solar zenith angle

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Abstract

This study evaluated the differences in vitamin D3 synthesis in two different latitudes throughout 1 year using an in vitro model, which simulates cutaneous vitamin D photoproduction. Borosilicate ampoules containing 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC) were exposed to sunlight hourly throughout the daylight hours, 1 day per month for a year, in Fortaleza (latitude 03° 43′ 01" S—LAT3° S) and Sao Paulo (latitude 23° 32′ 53" S—LAT23° S). Later, vitamin D3 and photoisomers of 7-DHC (tachysterol and lumisterol) were measured by a high-performance liquid chromatography system (HPLC). Vitamin D synthesis weighted UV radiation (UVBVitD) and solar zenith angle (SZA) were calculated during the same periods for both latitudes. Vitamin D3 synthesis occurred throughout the year in both locations, as expected in latitudes lower than 35°. Median of photoconversion to vitamin D3 through the year was higher in LAT3°S [median (IQR): LAT 3°S 4.1% (6.0); LAT 23°S 2.9% (4.5); p value = 0.020]. Vitamin D3 production strongly correlated with UV-B (LAT3° S, r = 0.917; p < 0.0001 and at LAT23° S, r = 0.879; p < 0.0001) and SZA (LAT3° S, r = − 0.924; p < 0.0001 and in LAT23°S, r = − 0.808; p < 0.0001). Vitamin D3 production starts later in LAT23° S, especially in winter. Lowest percentages were observed in June in both cities, although, compared to LAT3° S, in LAT 23° S the conversion was over 50% lower in the winter period. Cloudiness impaired photoproduction of Vitamin D3 even in summer months in both latitudes. Our results provide data to help guide medical recommendations for sensible sun exposure to promote the cutaneous production of vitamin D3 at different latitudes, seasonality, time of day and cloudiness status in Brazil.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Mr. Angelo Leal and Mrs. Lindalva Leal for their help with vitamin D photoconversion measurements, Ms. Franciane Rodrigues and Ms. Katia Mendes for meteorological data and vitamin D photoconversion measurements, and Ms. Lorrie Butler and Ms. Kelly Persons for their support for the laboratory measurements at Boston University. The authors ACGBL and ML-C would like to thank also the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for supporting the Post-graduation Program of Endocrinology and Metabolism, at Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Brazil. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo (UNIFESP), Sao Paulo, Brazil

    Angela C. G. B. Leal & Marise Lazaretti-Castro

  2. Natural Resources Institute, Universidade Federal de Itajubá, Itajubá, Brazil

    Marcelo P. Corrêa

  3. Vitamin D, Skin and Bone Research Laboratory, Boston University, Boston, USA

    Michael F. Holick

  4. Division of Pediatrics, Department of Medicine, University Hospital, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil

    Enaldo V. Melo

  5. Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, University Hospital, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, R. Claudio Batista, Aracaju, SE, 505-49060-025, Brazil

    Angela C. G. B. Leal

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  1. Angela C. G. B. Leal
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Contributions

ACGBL: data curation, investigation, formal analysis, writing—original draft. MPC: data curation, writing—review and editing. EVM: formal analysis. MFH: conceptualization, methodology, resources, writing—review and editing. ML-C: conceptualization, writing—review and editing, supervision.

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Correspondence to Angela C. G. B. Leal.

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Leal, A.C.G.B., Corrêa, M.P., Holick, M.F. et al. Sun-induced production of vitamin D3 throughout 1 year in tropical and subtropical regions: relationship with latitude, cloudiness, UV-B exposure and solar zenith angle. Photochem Photobiol Sci 20, 265–274 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-021-00015-z

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