Sunshine isn't slimming and can't halt diabetes

ConclusionThis study on mice has found long-term ultraviolet (UV) irradiation significantly suppressed weight gain and markers of metabolic syndrome, including glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, and blood levels of fasting insulin, glucose and cholesterol, in male mice fed a high-fat diet.Many of the benefits of UV radiation were not reproduced by vitamin D supplementation alone. The researchers instead think that another chemical called nitric oxide, which is also produced when skin is exposed to UV light, may be responsible for the differences seen.Mice are nocturnal animals covered in fur whose skin is not usually exposed to much sunlight. As the BBC reports, further research is required to see if sunshine has the same effect in people. We can pretty confidently sat that the Express' front page splash saying, "Sunlight is key to fighting diabetes", and the Mirror's claim that "Sunshine can make you thin", are both nonsense. Analysis by Bazian. Edited by NHS Choices. Follow Behind the Headlines on Twitter. Join the Healthy Evidence forum. Links To The Headlines 'Sunshine can slow weight gain and diabetes symptoms'. BBC News, 24 October 2014Sunlight is key to fighting childhood obesity and diabetes, Scots scientists reveal. Daily Express, 24 October 2014Sunbathing can stop you gaining weight (well, it works for mice). The Times, 24 October 2014 Links To Science Geldenhuys S, et al. Ultraviolet Radiation Suppresses Obesity and Symptoms of Metabo...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Diabetes Source Type: news