Jan 23, 2014 02:36 PM EST By Jaleesa Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Moderate sun exposure could protect against high blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attack and strokes, according to a recent study CBS News reported.

Researchers from the University of Southampton and the University of Edinburgh found that exposing skin to ultraviolet rays alter levels of nitric oxide in the skin and blood, reducing blood pressure, ConsumerAffairs.com reported.  Some people avoid the sun in an effort to lower their risk of skin cancer, CBS News reported.

"Nitric oxide, along with its breakdown products, known to be abundant in skin, is involved in the regulation of blood pressure," Martin Feelisch, professor of experimental medicine and integrative biology at the University of Southampton, said in a statement. "When exposed to sunlight, small amounts of nitric oxide are transferred from the skin to the circulation, lowering blood vessel tone; as blood pressure drops, so does the risk of heart attack and stroke."

For the study, researchers exposed the skin of 24 study participants to a dose of UVA light equivalent to spending 30 minutes in natural sunlight. They found that just 20 minutes of exposure to natural sunlight could dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure.  

Some people limit sun exposure to prevent sun cancer, but researchers suggest that minimizing exposure to UVA may increase the risk of prevalent conditions related to cardiovascular disease, MedicalDaily reported.

Cardiovascular disease, often associated with high blood pressure, accounts for 30 percent of deaths globally each year.

"Blood pressure and cardiovascular disease are known to vary according to season and latitude, with higher levels observed in winter and in countries further from the equator, where ultraviolet radiation from the sun is lower," researchers said in a news release.

Feelisch said he believes nitric oxide from the skin is a major factor in maintaining a healthy cardiovascular system, but more studies are needed to prove the theory.

"In future studies we intend to test whether the effects hold true in a more chronic setting and identify new nutritional strategies targeted at maximizing the skin's ability to store NO [nitric oxide] and deliver it to the circulation more efficiently," Feelisch said.

The study was published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. 

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