Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The effects of a mid-winter 8-week course of sub-sunburn sunbed exposures on tanning, vitamin D status and colds

  • Paper
  • Published:
Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Like UV irradiation, which generates vitamin D3 in the skin, the hormonally active metabolite, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, boosts innate immunity against viruses and bacteria. Epidemiologic studies have found high vitamin D levels to be associated with lower risk of infections of the upper respiratory tract (colds). We have therefore performed an intervention study in 105 young adults (ages 18–30 years; 91% female) over a mid-winter 8-week period (January–March 2010). The participants were randomised to 3 groups: (A) subjected to 3 times a week sub-sunburn sunbed exposure (n = 35), (B) daily vitamin D supplementation, @ 1000 IU (n = 37), and (C) a control group without any intervention (n = 33). The mean serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) dropped from 62 to 55 nmol l−1 in group C, while these levels rose from 62 to 109 and from 58 to 93 nmol l−1 in groups A and B, respectively (p < 0.001). The skin on the chest darkened significantly in group A (mean difference in lightness, L*, equalled −5.7, p < 0.001), correlating significantly, but weakly, with increases in 25(OH)D (3.3 nmol l−1 per unit drop in L*, R2 = 0.17, p = 0.014). The percentage of self-reported colds with proper signs and symptoms was only slightly and not significantly reduced in groups A and B in comparison to group C: 57 and 51 versus 67%, respectively. Hence, the sub-sunburn sunbed treatment was effective in tanning and increasing the 25(OH)D serum level, more so than 1000 IU per day, but had no appreciable effect on colds.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

25(OH)D:

25-hydroxyvitamin D

1,25(OH):

1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D

2DCI:

confidence interval

CIE:

Commission International de l’Éclairage

IU:

international unit, 25 ng 25(OH)D

MED:

minimal erythemal dose

OR:

odds ratio

SD:

standard deviation

SED:

standard erythemal dose (100 J m−2 CIE erythemally weighted UV)

UV:

ultraviolet (radiation)

References

  1. J. J. Cannell, R. Vieth, J. C. Umhau, M. F. Holick, W. B. Grant, S. Madronich, C. F. Garland and E. Giovannucci, Epidemic influenza and vitamin D, Epidemiol. Infect., 2006, 134, 1129–1140.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. T. T. Wang, F. P. Nestel, V. Bourdeau, Y. Nagai, Q. Wang, J. Liao, L. Tavera-Mendoza, R. Lin, J. W. Hanrahan, S. Mader and J. H. White, Cutting edge: 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 is a direct inducer of antimicrobial peptide gene expression, J. Immunol., 2004, 173, 2909–2912.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. P. T. Liu, S. Stenger, H. Li, L. Wenzel, B. H. Tan, S. R. Krutzik, M. T. Ochoa, J. Schauber, K. Wu, C. Meinken, D. L. Kamen, M. Wagner, R. Bals, A. Steinmeyer, U. Zügel, R. L. Gallo, D. Eisenberg, M. Hewison, B. W. Hollis, J. S. Adams, B. R. Bloom and R. L. Modlin, Toll-like receptor triggering of a vitamin D-mediated human antimicrobial response, Science, 2006, 311, 1770–1773.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. R. Gläser, F. Navid, W. Schuller, C. Jantschitsch, J. Harder, J. M. Schröder, A. Schwarz and T. Schwarz, UV-B radiation induces the expression of antimicrobial peptides in human keratinocytes in vitro and in vivo, J. Allergy Clin. Immunol., 2009, 123, 1117–1123.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Medical Research Council annual report for 1927–28, The Lancet, 1929, 83, 628–31.

  6. A. Eidinow, The bactericidal effect of ultra-violet rays, Br. J. Radiol., 1926, 31, 35–40.

    Google Scholar 

  7. A. R. Martineau, R. J. Wilkinson, K. A. Wilkinson, S. M. Newton, B. Kampmann, B. M. Hall, G. E. Packe, R. N. Davidson, S. M. Eldridge, Z. J. Maunsell, S. J. Rainbow, J. L. Berry and C. J. Griffiths, A single dose of vitamin D enhances immunity to mycobacteria, Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., 2007, 176, 208–213.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. F. Termorshuizen, A. Wijga, J. Gerritsen, H. J. Neijens, H. van Loveren, Exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation and respiratory tract symptoms in 1-year-old children, Photodermatol., Photoimmunol. Photomed., 2004, 20, 270–271.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. J. F. Aloia, M. Li-Ng, Re: epidemic influenza and vitamin D, Epidemiol. Infect., 2007, 135, 1095–1096.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. I. Laaksi, J. P. Ruohola, P. Tuohimaa, A. Auvinen, R. Haataja, H. Pihlajamäki and T. Ylikomi, An association of serum vitamin D concentrations <40 nmol l−1 with acute respiratory tract infection in young Finnish men, Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 2007, 86, 714–717.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. A. A. Ginde, J. M. Mansbach, C. A. Camargo Jr., Association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and upper respiratory tract infection in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, Arch. Intern. Med., 2009, 169, 384–390.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. E. Thieden, H. L. Jørgensen, N. R. Jørgensen, P. A. Philipsen and H. C. Wulf, Sunbed radiation provokes cutaneous vitamin D synthesis in humans–a randomized controlled trial, Photochem. Photobiol., 2008, 84, 1487–1492.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Guideline for the colorimetric determination of skin colour typing and prediction of minimal erythemal dose (MED) with out UV exposure, Colipa Guidelines, Edition 2007.

  14. S. A. Miller, S. G. Coelho, B. Z. Zmudzka, H. F. Bushar, Y. Yamaguchi, V. J. Hearing and J. Z. Beer, Dynamics of pigmentation induction by repeated ultraviolet exposures: dose, dose interval and ultraviolet spectrum dependence, Br. J. Dermatol., 2008, 159, 921–930.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. I. Laaksi, J. P. Ruohola, V. Mattila, A. Auvinen, T. Ylikomi, H. Pihlajamäki, Vitamin D supplementation for the prevention of acute respiratory tract infection: a randomized, double-blinded trial among young Finnish men, J. Infect. Dis., 2010, 202, 809–814.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. M. Li-Ng, J. F. Aloia, S. Pollack, B. A. Cunha, M. Mikhail, J. Yeh and N. Berbari, A randomized controlled trial of vitamin D3 supplementation for the prevention of symptomatic upper respiratory tract infections, Epidemiol. Infect., 2009, 137, 1396–1404.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. M. K. Bogh, A. V. Schmedes, P. A. Philipsen, E. Thieden and H. C. Wulf, A small suberythemal ultraviolet B dose every second week is sufficient to maintain summer vitamin D levels: a randomized controlled trial, Br. J. Dermatol., 2012, 166, 430–433.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. E. Hyppönen, S. Turner, P. Cumberland, C. Power and I. Gibb, Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D measurement in a large population survey with statistical harmonization of assay variation to an international standard, J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., 2007, 92, 4615–4622.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. L. Gordon, N. G. Hirst, A. C. Green and R. E. Neale, Tanning behaviors and determinants of solarium use among indoor office workers in Queensland, Australia, J. Health Psychol., 2012, 17, 856–865.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. D. Lazovich, R. I. Vogel, M. Berwick, M. A. Weinstock, K. E. Anderson and E. M. Warshaw, Indoor tanning and risk of melanoma: a case-control study in a highly exposed population, Cancer Epidemiol., Biomarkers Prev., 2010, 19, 1557–1568.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. L. E. Rhodes, M. Bock, A. S. Janssens, T. C. Ling, L. Anastasopoulou, C. Antoniou, F. Aubin, T. Bruckner, B. Faivre, N. K. Gibbs, C. Jansen, S. Pavel, A. J. Stratigos, F. R. de Gruijl and T. L. Diepgen, Polymorphic light eruption occurs in 18% of Europeans and does not show higher prevalence with increasing latitude: multicenter survey of 6,895 individuals residing from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, J. Invest. Dermatol., 2010, 130, 626–628.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Leiden Univ. Med. Ctr./LUMC, postal zone S2P, PO Box 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Frank R. de Gruijl & Stan Pavel

Authors
  1. Frank R. de Gruijl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Stan Pavel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Frank R. de Gruijl.

Additional information

Contribution to the Vitamin D Update collected papers.

Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c2pp25179e

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

de Gruijl, F.R., Pavel, S. The effects of a mid-winter 8-week course of sub-sunburn sunbed exposures on tanning, vitamin D status and colds. Photochem Photobiol Sci 11, 1848–1854 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1039/c2pp25179e

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/c2pp25179e

Search

Navigation