Authors
Pirus Ghadjar, Natalia Syzonenko, Anastasia Lucia Strzebinczyk, Siddharth Arora, Benjamin Michel, Moritz V Scharr, Helmut Piazena, Daniel Zips, Georg Seifert
Published in
Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology. Aug 17, 2026. Epub Aug 17, 2026.
Abstract
Hypertension is the leading global risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure has been proposed as a potential modifiable environmental factor influencing blood pressure regulation. While traditionally associated with vitamin D synthesis, emerging evidence suggests alternative mechanisms, including nitric oxide (NO) mobilization, may play a significant role.
To systematically review the available evidence on effects of UV exposure on blood pressure, with a focus on hypertension in human populations.
A systematic review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Electronic databases were searched for studies investigating the impact of UV exposure (UVA and/or UVB) on blood pressure. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials (RCTs), clinical trials, and observational studies involving human participants. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment were performed independently.
A total of 14 studies were included in the final analysis. The majority demonstrated that UV exposure, particularly UVA, was associated with a reduction in blood pressure. Several studies suggested that this effect is mediated through NO release from cutaneous stores, independent of vitamin D pathways. However, findings were heterogeneous, with studies reporting no significant effects, likely due to differences in study design, population characteristics, and exposure protocols.
UV exposure, especially UVA, demonstrates a blood pressure-lowering effect, potentially mediated by NO-related mechanisms. However, clinical translation requires a balanced quantitative risk-benefit assessment that considers potential cardiovascular benefits, all-cause mortality-related evidence, and dermatological risks. Further large-scale and well-designed RCTs with standardized exposure protocols and long-term safety follow-up are required before UV-based interventions can be recommended for cardiovascular prevention or hypertension management.
PMID:
42606691
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 18 Aug 2026.
Read full publication at:
Please sign in
to see all details.
Advertisement
Stats
- Recommendations n/a n/a positive of 0 vote(s)
- Views 2
- Comments 0