A revised action spectrum for vitamin D synthesis by suberythemal UV radiation exposure in humans in vivo

Action spectra are important biological weighting functions for risk/benefit analyses of ultraviolet (UV) radiation (UVR) exposure. One important human benefit of exposure to terrestrial solar UVB radiation (∼295 to 315 nm) is the cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D 3 that is initiated by the photoconversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol to previtamin D 3 An action spectrum for this process that is followed by other nonphotochemical steps to achieve biologically active vitamin D 3 has been established from ex vivo data and is widely used, although its validity has been questioned. We tested this action spectrum in vivo by full- or partial-body suberythemal irradiation of 75 healthy young volunteers with five different polychromatic UVR spectra on five serial occasions. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 [25(OH)D 3 ] levels, as the most accurate measure of vitamin D 3 status, were assessed before, during, and after the exposures. These were then used to generate linear dose-response curves that were different for each UVR spectrum. It was established that the previtamin D 3 action spectrum was not valid when related to the serum 25(OH)D 3 levels, as weighting the UVR doses with this action spectrum did not result in a common regression line unless it was adjusted by a blue shift, with 5 nm giving the best fit. Such a blue shift is in accord with the published in vitro action spectra for vitamin D 3 synthesis. Thus, calculations regarding the risk (typically erythema) versus the benefit of exposure to solar UVR based on the ex vivo previtamin D 3 action spectrum require revision.