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The Influence of Sunlight Exposure and Sun Protecting Behaviours on Allergic Outcomes in Early Childhood

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  • Kristina Rueter

    (School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Australia
    Department of Immunology and Dermatology, Perth Children’s Hospital, 15 Hospital Avenue, Nedlands 6009, Australia
    inVIVO Planetary Health, Group of the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), 6010 Park Ave, West New York, NJ 07093, USA)

  • Anderson P. Jones

    (Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, 15 Hospital Avenue, Nedlands 6009, Australia)

  • Aris Siafarikas

    (School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Australia
    Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, 15 Hospital Avenue, Nedlands 6009, Australia
    Department of Endocrinology, Perth Children’s Hospital, 15 Hospital Avenue, Nedlands 6009, Australia
    Institute for Health Research, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Perth 6160, Australia)

  • Paola Chivers

    (Institute for Health Research, The University of Notre Dame Australia, Perth 6160, Australia
    School of Medical and Health Science, Edith Cowan University, Perth 6027, Australia)

  • Susan L. Prescott

    (School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Australia
    Department of Immunology and Dermatology, Perth Children’s Hospital, 15 Hospital Avenue, Nedlands 6009, Australia
    inVIVO Planetary Health, Group of the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), 6010 Park Ave, West New York, NJ 07093, USA
    The ORIGINS Project, Telethon Kids Institute and Division of Paediatrics, University of Western Australia, 15 Hospital Avenue, Nedlands 6009, Australia)

  • Debra J. Palmer

    (School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Australia
    Telethon Kids Institute, University of Western Australia, 15 Hospital Avenue, Nedlands 6009, Australia)

Abstract

The dramatic rise in allergic disease has occurred in tandem with recent environmental changes and increasing indoor lifestyle culture. While multifactorial, one consistent allergy risk factor has been reduced sunlight exposure. However, vitamin D supplementation studies have been disappointing in preventing allergy, raising possible independent effects of ultraviolet (UV) light exposure. The aim of this study was to examine whether UV light exposure influences the development of allergic disease in early childhood. Direct sunlight exposure (290–380 nm) in early infancy was measured via UV dosimeters. Outdoor exposure, sun protective behaviours, and allergy outcomes were assessed over the first 2.5 years of life with clinical assessment appointments at 3, 6, 12 and 30 months of age. Children with eczema had less ( p = 0.038) direct UV light exposure between 0–3 months of age (median (IQR) 747 (473–1439) J/m 2 ) than children without eczema (median (IQR) 1204 (1717–1843) J/m 2 ); and less outdoor exposure time (7 min/day) between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. compared to children without eczema (20 min/day, p = 0.011). These associations were seen independent of vitamin D status, and after adjusting for other potential confounders. Whilst we could not find any associations between direct UV light exposure and other allergic disease outcomes, exposure to UV light appears to be beneficial in reducing the risk of eczema development in early childhood. Further research is required to determine optimal levels of UV light exposure while balancing the potential risks.

Suggested Citation

  • Kristina Rueter & Anderson P. Jones & Aris Siafarikas & Paola Chivers & Susan L. Prescott & Debra J. Palmer, 2021. "The Influence of Sunlight Exposure and Sun Protecting Behaviours on Allergic Outcomes in Early Childhood," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-15, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:10:p:5429-:d:557825
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vanessa Garcia-Larsen & Despo Ierodiakonou & Katharine Jarrold & Sergio Cunha & Jennifer Chivinge & Zoe Robinson & Natalie Geoghegan & Alisha Ruparelia & Pooja Devani & Marialena Trivella & Jo Leonard, 2018. "Diet during pregnancy and infancy and risk of allergic or autoimmune disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(2), pages 1-25, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sotiroula Theodosi & Iolie Nicolaidou, 2023. "Validation of the Sun Exposure and Protection Index (SEPI) in Greek: An Instrument for Measuring Children’s Sun Protection Propensity," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-10, January.

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