Sunshine May Slow Weight Gain and Diabetes: The Positive Effects of the Sun

Want to lose some weight? You may want to get a little extra sunshine in your life. Scientists have found that exposure to moderate amounts of sunshine may slow the development of obesity and diabetes.

Previous studies in people have shown that nitric oxide can lower blood pressure after exposure to UV lamps. Intrigued by this, the scientists shone UV light at overfed mice to see what other effects it might have. They found that the mice displayed fewer of the warning signs linked to diabetes, such as abnormal glucose levels and resistance to insulin.

So why did the light help? The beneficial effects of the light were linked to a compound called nitric oxide, which is released by the skin after exposure to sunlight. Applying a cream containing nitric oxide to the skin of the overfed mice had the same effect of curbing weight gain as exposure to UV light.

The findings actually add to the growing body of evidence that shows that moderate amounts of sunlight have health benefits. This is particularly important to note when it comes to treating those with diabetes and obesity.

"These observations further indicate that the amounts of nitric oxide released from the skin may have beneficial effects not only on heart and blood vessels but also on the way our body regulates metabolism," said Martin Feelisch, one of the researchers, in a news release.

That said, the results should be interpreted cautiously. Mice are nocturnal animals and are not usually exposed to much sunlight. It's important to learn whether the effect on weight is worth the extra exposure to sunlight.

"We know from epidemiology studies that sun-seekers live longer than those who spend their lives in the shade," said Richard Weller, one of the researchers. "Studies such as this one are helping us to understand how the sun can be good for us. We need to remember than skin cancer is not the only disease that can kill us and should perhaps balance our advice on sun exposure."

The findings are published in the journal Diabetes.