SynthesisPhotochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology2026
Effects of ultraviolet light exposure on blood pressure: a systematic review.
Synthesis in Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundHypertension 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.
objectiveTo systematically review the available evidence on effects of UV exposure on blood pressure, with a focus on hypertension in human populations.
methodsA 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.
resultsA 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.
conclusionsUV 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.
Indexed as
Identifiers
42606691What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.