M. Nathaniel Mead

Abstract

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Although clinicians have long known that moderate sun exposure can confer certain health benefits, most public health messages of the past century have focused on the role sunlight plays in causing skin cancer. Some scientists now believe the emphasis on completely avoiding and blocking the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight can cause as many health problems as it prevents—if not more. Exposure to sunlight promotes production of vitamin D in the body, which can aid bone health, immune function, and blood pressure regulation. Sunlight also provides other important health benefits beyond those associated with vitamin D. Researchers are now seeking to determine optimal daily doses of vitamin D via sunlight and/or dietary supplementation, and to craft appropriate public health messages that balance the pros and cons of sun exposure.