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Narrowband ultraviolet B course improves vitamin D balance in women in winter
Author(s) -
Vähävihu K.,
Ylianttila L.,
Kautiainen H.,
Viljakainen H.,
LambergAllardt C.,
Hasan T.,
Tuohimaa P.,
Reunala T.,
Snellman E.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2010.09629.x
Subject(s) - vitamin d and neurology , medicine , ultraviolet b , erythema , vitamin d deficiency , vitamin , ergocalciferol , ultraviolet b radiation , cholecalciferol , endocrinology , ultraviolet radiation , surgery , dermatology , chemistry , radiochemistry
Summary Background Vitamin D insufficiency is common in winter in the Nordic countries. Objectives To examine whether a short course of narrowband ultraviolet B (NB‐UVB) improves vitamin D balance. Methods Fifty‐six healthy, white women (mean age 41 years) volunteered and 53 completed the study. NB‐UVB exposures were given on seven consecutive days either on the whole body ( n = 19), on the head and arms ( n = 9) or on the abdomen ( n = 14). Similarly, seven solar simulator exposures were given on the face and arms ( n = 11). The cumulative UVB dose was 13 standard erythema doses in all regimens. Serum calcidiol (25‐hydroxyvitamin D) concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay before and after the NB‐UVB exposures. Follow‐up samples were taken from the whole‐body NB‐UVB group at 2 months. Results At onset 41 women (77%) had vitamin D insufficiency (calcidiol < 50 nmol L −1 ) and six (11%) had vitamin D deficiency (calcidiol < 25 nmol L −1 ). Calcidiol concentration increased significantly, by a mean of 11·4 nmol L −1 when NB‐UVB was given on the whole body, by 11·0 nmol L −1 when given on the head and arms and by 4·0 nmol L −1 when given on the abdomen. Solar simulator exposures given on the face and arms increased calcidiol by 3·8 nmol L −1 . After 2 months serum calcidiol was still higher than initially in the group who received NB‐UVB exposures on the whole body. Conclusions NB‐UVB exposures given on seven consecutive days on different skin areas of healthy women significantly improved serum calcidiol concentration. A short low‐dose NB‐UVB course can improve vitamin D balance in winter.