via Nagoya University
A research team at Nagoya University in Japan has revealed that narrow-range ultraviolet (UV) irradiation using light emitting diodes (LEDs) safely increases serum vitamin D levels in aging mice and thereby prevents the loss of their bone and muscle mass. The findings were recently published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Decreased bone density (osteoporosis) and the loss of muscle mass and strength (sarcopenia) are age-related disorders. While there are some remedies for osteoporosis, there is no effective treatment for sarcopenia. Recently, a condition called osteosarcopenia — osteoporosis and sarcopenia together — which impedes the daily life activities of the sufferer, has also been observed among many elderly people.
Vitamin D is essential for healthy bones and muscles, and its deficiency is a possible cause of osteosarcopenia. Vitamin D can be produced when the skin is exposed to sunlight. However, the availability of sunlight depends on various factors like latitude, season, weather and patient mobility, which makes it difficult to obtain vitamin D consistently from sunlight alone. Indeed, it is known that many elderly people have a vitamin D deficiency.
The research team, consisting of Prof. Yoshihiro Nishida, Dr. Kazuya Makida, and colleagues at the Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, has been working to establish a method of supplying vitamin D in a safe and stable manner at low cost. “Unlike sunlight, LED-based UV irradiation could be a consistent and stable source of vitamin D,” says Dr. Makida.
In a previous study, the team had revealed that narrow-range UV irradiation using LEDs — which is an energy efficient light source — increased serum vitamin D levels in animal models with vitamin D deficiency and thereby prevented their bone weakness. However, due to its wavelength and intensity, the UV-LED irradiation could have harmful effects on the human body.
In the new study, the team first conducted experiments to determine the minimal intensity and the minimal dose of UV-LED irradiation that would supply sufficient vitamin D with few side effects. The minimal intensity was found to be 0.16 mW/cm2 and the minimal dose 1,000 J/m2.
Next, senescence-accelerated mice (mice bred with accelerated aging effects) were irradiated by UV-LEDs set to these levels. As a result, the serum vitamin D levels, bone density, and muscle mass and strength were all observed to increase compared to those of mice that were not irradiated. The researchers also verified that the UV-LED irradiation did not damage the skin of the mice. Therefore, they concluded, irradiation with narrow-range UV-LED light with minimal intensity and dose can safely and adequately supply vitamin D to aged mice, thereby preventing osteosarcopenia.
The team is now developing a small portable UV-LED irradiation device. “This device could prevent or cure osteosarcopenia without medicine,” says Professor Nishida. “It’s a new concept of medical device that can be used in various healthcare institutions and at home. It will also reduce the burden on people who care for immobile elderly people. With this device, all elderly people will be able to get enough vitamin D, the same amount or more than from sunlight, in an easy and safe manner at low cost. It could be a promising approach for the prevention and treatment of this disease.”
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
UV-LED irradiation device
- Measuring UV-C For About $5on April 8, 2021 at 5:00 pm
Looking to sterilize something? Give it a good blast of the old UV-C. Ultraviolet radiation in the shortest wavelength band breaks down DNA and RNA, so it’s a great way to kill off any nasties ...
- Bactericidal Effects of 310 nm Ultraviolet Light-emitting Diode Irradiation on Oral Bacteriaon April 6, 2021 at 5:00 pm
irradiation on oral bacteria to explore the possibility of using a 310 nm UVB-LED irradiation device for treatment of oral infectious diseases. Conclusions: Narrowband UVB-LED irradiation ...
- ICULTA virtual conference to present research advances in UV LEDson March 29, 2021 at 7:11 am
Recognizing this, the Ferdinand Braun Institut (FBH; Berlin, Germany) will present current developments and results at the International Conference on UV LED Technologies & Applications ... progress ...
- Improved reliability – FBH presents advances in UV LEDs towards application at ICULTA conferenceon March 29, 2021 at 1:49 am
FBH presents ... The Ferdinand-Braun-Institut (FBH) presents current research results at the virtual ICULTA 2021. In particular, the reliability of UVB and UVC LEDs has been significantly improved – ...
- FBH Presents Advances In UV LEDs At ICULTAon March 29, 2021 at 1:46 am
Up to now, the lifetime of state-of-the-art UVB and UVC LEDs has been limited to several thousand hours. At ICULTA, FBH presents a new understanding of degradation processes of UV LEDs. The ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
UV-LED irradiation device
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Vitamin D
- 'I remember the first wave, ICU was suddenly full of 10 people with very low Vitamin D levels'on April 8, 2021 at 10:37 pm
AN OIREACHTAS COMMITTEE has heard that Vitamin D deficiency was “really sticking out” in terms of looking at those who have suffered severe illness from Covid-19 in Ireland. A report from the ...
- Vitamin D Benefitson April 8, 2021 at 10:26 am
Getting enough vitamin D protects your health in a variety of ways. "It's very important to optimize your intake of vitamin D to help support bone health," says Rebecca Drayer, a registered dietitian ...
- Changes in vitamin D levels and depressive symptoms in later life in Englandon April 7, 2021 at 4:59 pm
Inadequate vitamin D levels have been associated with increased risk of depression. However, most of these studies are cross-sectional and failed to investigate the effect of changes in vitamin D ...
- Report says Irish people should take Vitamin D to combat Covid-19on April 7, 2021 at 12:04 pm
A group of politicians has said that Irish people should take daily Vitamin D supplements due to growing international evidence that it may help to prevent Covid-19 outbreaks.
- Every adult in Ireland should take vitamin D supplements, report recommendson April 7, 2021 at 8:50 am
Every adult in Ireland should start taking vitamin D supplements due to alarming levels of deficiency in the State, a new Oireachtas report says. Low levels of vitamin D have also been linked to worse ...