From GrassrootsHealth

Research has shown a definite link between higher vitamin D levels and improved cognitive health and mental-emotional wellbeing. For this reason, it makes sense that higher amounts of UVB from sunshine exposure, which generates vitamin D in the body, would also be related to improved mood and cognition.

However, there are so many ways through which exposure to sunlight can boost our mood and benefit our mind, besides those related to increased vitamin D levels!

Sunlight Initiates the Release of “Feel-Good” Chemicals in the Body

In addition to producing vitamin D, sunlight or UVB exposure results in the release of beta-endorphins, which are naturally occurring opioids that promote mood enhancement, relaxation, and pain relief. Nitric oxide, which is produced upon exposure to UVA from sunlight, has been shown to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, resulting in decreased anxiety and depression. The release of melatonin and serotonin is also prompted with sun exposure, both of which are associated with sleep regulation, improved mood, and easing anxiety.

Dopamine is another chemical in the body that is released upon exposure to sunshine. Dopamine, AKA the “feel-good neurotransmitter,” is known to boost mood and motivation, and is also linked to reduced depression and anxiety. A study evaluating the correlation between dopamine and sunshine, by Tsai et al., found that dopamine receptor availability was significantly greater among participants with the highest amount of sunshine exposure compared to the lowest, indicating a sensitivity of the dopamine system to variations in the amount of sun exposure a person gets.

Built-In Reward System in the Body for Sun-Seeking Behavior and UVB-Induced Vitamin D Synthesis

Recent research has identified an “endogenous opioid-mediated addiction-like pathway,” or a built-in feedback loop between vitamin D levels and sun seeking behavior, triggered by the UV-induced release of beta-endorphins. When the skin is exposed to UVB, beta-endorphins (the endogenous opioids made in the body) and vitamin D are produced simultaneously. The suggested benefit is to provide a “reward” for UV-induced vitamin D synthesis when vitamin D levels are low, during which time a greater amount of beta-endorphins are released upon exposure to UVB. As vitamin D levels rise, the sun-seeking behavior and resulting opioid response become repressed as less vitamin D is needed, representing a dose-dependent relationship between sun-seeking behavior, opioid response, and vitamin D levels.

There are even studies showing how vitamin D deficiency can be a contributing factor to opioid addiction, such as a study by Kemeny et al., which reviews how the intake of opioid drugs bypasses vitamin D production and the proposed feedback-control loop that is managed by vitamin D levels – which is hypothesized to contribute to continued opioid seeking behavior and resulting addiction. Using mouse models to help explain their hypothesis, the authors found that

• vitamin D deficiency increased UV radiation-induced endogenous pain relief and reward
• vitamin D deficiency did increase the UV/opioid reward, likely to maximize vitamin D synthesis, which normalized with the correction of vitamin D levels and more

Other Ways Sunshine and UVB Exposure Affect Mental Health

Lower Risk of Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Limited or minimized sunshine exposure has also been associated with and increased risk of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).

Better Mood and Improved Sense of Wellbeing

Studies have correlated increased levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) with major depressive disorder, and cortisol with immune and mood imbalances.

Improved Infant Motor Development and Postpartum Depression

A study by Zhang et al. found that infants receiving vitamin D (400 IU/day) plus sunlight had better motor development scores and lower cortisol levels over the next two months compared to infants only taking vitamin D supplements (400 or 1000 IU/day) or the control group.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

One in ten Americans suffer from a recurring depression called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) for which their symptoms often start in late fall or early winter when the days are short, and go away in the spring when the days lengthen. In other words, they feel better when there is more UVB available with sunlight. The risk is much higher for people who live further from the equator, where the length of the days varies more greatly throughout the year. Light therapy, exposure to artificial UVB lamps, has been shown to be an effective treatment for people with SAD, improving symptoms by 50-80%.

Reduced Risk of Cognitive Impairment

A study by Gao et al. looked at data from 1192 participants aged 60 years and older and residing in rural China who provided information about their long-term sun exposure behaviors including time of day when outdoors, duration outdoors, and use of sun protection. This study concluded that long-term high sun exposure throughout life could reduce the risk of cognitive impairment in the later years of life.

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