Skin exposure to sunlight: a factor modulating the human gut microbiome composition

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Human Health
• Dermatology

Background:

• The gut microbiome is crucial for human health, with diet, age, and disease influencing its composition.
• Factors affecting the gut microbiome are widely studied, but some determinants remain underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of sunlight exposure on the gut microbiome.
• To explore a potential link between skin exposure to UVB light and gut microbial structure.

Main Methods:

• Revisiting existing data on the Yanomami hunter-gatherer gut microbiome.
• Comparing Yanomami gut microbiome data with findings on UVB light exposure effects.

Main Results:

• Similarities were identified between the gut microbiomes of the Yanomami cohort and a cohort exposed to UVB light.
• Both groups showed a high abundance of Proteobacteria, potentially linked to natural sunlight exposure.

Conclusions:

• Human lifestyle, particularly sunlight exposure, is a significant modulator of the gut microbiome.
• A novel skin-gut axis, influenced by sunlight, is proposed as relevant to health and disease.