☀️Do Vitamin D Light Bulbs Really Work? Evidence & Reviews

Human health is largely determined by the balance of vitamins necessary for the body. Many scientific studies confirm that one of the most important vitamins that determine the general condition of the body is vitamin D.

In summer, due to a large number of sunny days, the deficit can be filled by being under the open sun. But with the onset of autumn, when daylight hours gradually become shorter, the need to resort to additional sources increases. Vitamin D light bulbs are one such source.

In this article, you will find information about this type of light therapy, its features, and its effects on the body. And also clinical studies confirming the effectiveness of it.

Sperti Vitamin D Sunlamp

What is vitamin D and why is it important?

Vitamin D is needed to:

1. The normal growth, because without it, bones do not develop properly;
2. Achieve normal cardiac activity and blood clotting;
3. Maintain a stable nervous system and blood pressure;
4. The normal functioning of the immune system;
5. The normal functioning of muscles.

Vitamin D is produced in the skin by exposure to UVB rays from the sun. You can also get the vitamin D you need from food or chemical supplements.

Since vitamin D is soluble in fats, it can accumulate in the human body in the cells of various organs. Its greatest amount is found in the subcutaneous fat and liver.

Coming out of this, there are many reasons why vitamin D deficiency is so common. Since vitamin D is not found in many food sources, our main source of vitamin D is the sun. However, the problem is that our modern lifestyle does not allow us to get enough sunlight to stay healthy. We spend most of our days working and resting indoors. Also, to obtain vitamin D from the sun, we must expose our skin to direct sunlight when the conditions are ideal. Many factors limit our ability to make vitamin D from sunlight, including latitude, season, time of day, cloud cover, etc.

What are the signs and symptoms of vitamin D deficiency?

The ability of the skin to produce vitamin D decreases with age. Therefore the prevalence of patients with vitamin D deficiency is highest among the elderly, and also obese patients, nursing home residents, and hospitalized patients.

Low vitamin D levels can cause a variety of symptoms.

Signs of vitamin D deficiency include:

1. Brittle bones;
2. Muscle weakness, cramps;
3. Frequent colds;
4. Decreased mood;
5. Irritability;
6. Teeth unraveling, frequent caries;
7. Decreased appetite.

Also, an increase in the need for vitamin D is facilitated by naturally dark skin, vegetarianism, and adherence to low-fat diets, digestive disorders, pregnancy, and lactation, a period of intensive growth and development.

In the case of pregnancy and lactation, this need is justified by the development and birth of the fetus, which needs vitamins, which it takes first from the womb, and then from milk. Vegetarianism and adherence to diets (in particular low-fat) are always stressful for the body since there is often a deficiency in the ingestion of the necessary substances, in particular vitamin D.

These people need additional vitamin D intake.

What are Vitamin D lights bulbs?

A vitamin D light bulbs is a lamp that emits ultraviolet light (only necessarily UVB, not UVA), helping your body produce vitamin D.

How it works

Two forms of vitamin D are important for humans: vitamin D2, produced by plants, yeast, and fungi, and vitamin D3, produced by the skin when exposed to sunlight or ultraviolet light of an appropriate length [7].

Vitamin D bulbs are one of the main sources of this vitamin in the absence of sufficient sunlight.

The principle of operation of a lamp with vitamin D is as follows. 

When UVB light hits the upper areas of the skin (epidermis), pre-vitamin D3 is produced, which is converted into vitamin D3 within a few hours. It is then transported to the liver where it is converted to 25-hydroxyvitamin D3. It is the main form of vitamin D that is measured to determine vitamin D status. Part of it also enters the kidneys, where it is converted to its active form — 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D. This form helps to increase calcium in the body [7].

The UVB device that produces vitamin D3 can be used on areas of the skin that are less exposed to sunlight, such as the upper legs, arms, abdomen, and back, thus minimizing the risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancer.

A Vitamin D light bulb session involves sitting in front of the device approximately 15 inches (46 cm) from the device. An obligatory precaution is to protect the eyes with special glasses from ultraviolet radiation.

Vitamin D bulbs are usually equipped with a timer. It is recommended that you start with a two to three-minute session first to make sure you don’t overdo it and get sunburned.

A five-minute session is sufficient, and most use vitamin D bulbs on average three times a week.

How effective are vitamin D bulbs? Based on clinical trials

Vitamin D is more than just a nutrient; it is a hormone with receptors in almost every cell and tissue in the body. Vitamin D has a wide range of effects on systemic health and has been shown to support the function of the physical, mental and immune systems.

Vitamin D and mental health

Vitamin D deficiency plays a role in the development of mental disorders and, in particular, mood disorders. Exposure to UVB stimulates various mechanisms in the body, which have a positive effect on mental health. The following studies support this information.

The aim of a study [1] involving 19 patients with fibromyalgiaFibromyalgia — a disease characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by weakness, sleep, memory, and mood disorders. caused by vitamin D deficiency was to determine the effectiveness of UVB light. Patients were exposed to radiation for two weeks. As a result, measuring mood variables in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome showed that 6-ultraviolet light sessions had a positive effect on well-being, relaxation, and pain reduction.

Coming out of this study, it can be noted that UVB lamps reduce pain and also have a positive effect on mental health in people with fibromyalgia syndrome.

The next study [2] looked at the symptoms of depression and vitamin D deficiency. 114 patients were screened for depressive symptoms and vitamin D deficiency. Those participants who had severe vitamin D deficiency and experienced clinically significant depressive symptoms were randomly assigned to either 12 weeks a light irradiation program or a placebo group. As a result, the group that was exposed to the radiation showed a significant increase in vitamin D levels and, on average, was no longer deficient, while the patients in the placebo group worsened.To summarize, the use of UVB light therapy bulbs increases the amount of vitamin D in the body, which as a result has a beneficial effect on mental and mood disorders.

Vitamin D and immune system

Scientific evidence shows that vitamin D affects the immune system and helps maintain systemic health. Vitamin D acts as an immunity booster, and its deficiency is associated with immune disorders and an increased risk of infections.

A study [3] included 167 patients who were randomly divided into two groups: the first group received vitamin D as a result of radiation, the second group took a placebo, avoid the incidence of influenza A. The study was conducted in the winter period (from December to February). As a result, influenza A occurred in 18 (10.8%) patients in the vitamin D group compared with 31 (18.6%) patients in the placebo group. Consequently, the reduction in the incidence of influenza A was more pronounced in patients who received vitamin D.

Consequently, maintaining healthy vitamin D levels during the winter is important for the health of the whole body, in particular the immune system. The narrow spectrum of UVB radiation naturally stimulates the production of vitamin D and activates the same mechanisms as sunlight. 

Vitamin D and Rheumatoid arthritis

Low vitamin D levels have been associated with an increased risk and activity of various autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis.

The study [4] compared 100 patients with rheumatoid arthritis disease for vitamin D deficiency and subsequent treatment. The study found that 84% of patients were vitamin D deficient compared with 16% of patients in whom vitamin D was in the normal range. In addition, vitamin D levels correlated with disease severity — patients with lower vitamin D levels had higher disease activity. After UVB light irradiation procedures, patients noted a decrease in inflammation and an improvement in general condition.

There have also been several studies [5] in which for several years, women (a total of 106,368 persons) who had the initial symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis were exposed to UVB radiation to increase the intake of vitamin D into the body. As a result, the risk of developing the disease decreased by 21%. These results suggest that UV-B exposure is associated with increased vitamin D and a lower likelihood of developing RA.

From this, it can be concluded that UVB light increases the supply of vitamin D, but more research is needed to determine the potential of vitamin D for treating rheumatoid arthritis, as well as the exact form and dosage of vitamin D required for treating arthritis.

Vitamin D and Osteoporosis

Vitamin D is best known for its role in maintaining bone health. 

There have been several placebo-controlled studies [6] that investigated the effect of vitamin D on the development of osteoporosis. The patients were divided into groups. The first group received UVB light to obtain vitamin D, the second received placebo treatment. As a result, the vitamin D group showed a 30% reduction in the incidence of hip or non-vertebral fractures compared with placebo.

It can be concluded that since low vitamin D levels are a risk factor for osteoporosis, it is important that people at risk of osteoporosis take steps to maintain adequate vitamin D levels that can be obtained through light therapy.

Best Vitamin D bulbs

Sperti Vitamin D Sunlamp

Sperti Vitamin D Sunlamp is the most famous device for generating vitamin D in the body. It is also one of the few lamps recognized by the FDAFDA is a Food and Drug Administration standard that guarantees the quality and safety of the presented device.
as an ultraviolet product for the production of vitamin D in the human body.

It uses four UVB lamps and has a lifespan of 1000 hours. Since one phototherapy session should not take more than 5 minutes, this lamp will serve you for a very long time. In addition, the built-in timer reduces the risk of overexposure and provides an easy way to keep track of each procedure.

Although the UVB rays emitted by Sperti Vitamin D are less harmful than UVA rays, they still come with many risks. Therefore, users should pay attention to the observance of safety precautions, in particular eye protection with special glasses that are supplied with the lamp.

Rayminder M260

It is a versatile and powerful lamp that uses state-of-the-art technology to produce a narrow band of ultraviolet light, specifically designed to help your body produce Vitamin D better and thereby fight various diseases.

The Rayminder M260 consists of a bulb that is 2 times the lifespan of the Sperti Vitamin D Sunlamp. Therefore, you do not need to worry about the operation of the device, because you will have enough of it for many years

This device is equipped with a timer for 60 minutes. Therefore, you should be careful when using it, so as not to overdo it and not get burned. Also as a precaution, the lamp is supplied with glasses that completely cover the eyes, including peripheral vision, to avoid negative consequences.

Summary

The sun is essential for our health, strength, peace of mind, and even our survival.

One of the most famous hormones produced by sunlight is vitamin D. Its production occurs naturally in the body when UVB light strikes the skin.

Vitamin D lamps are becoming more and more popular as they naturally stimulate the production of vitamin D in the skin by activating the same mechanisms as sunlight. These lamps produce this hormone without the harmful UVA radiation that can cause negative effects such as premature aging and skin cancer. But do not forget about the precautions that include eye protection and a safe time for the procedure.

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