Lack of sunlight may be aggravating asthma problems in children, according to a new analysis.
Spanish researchers have shown that sunlight levels are closely linked to rates of asthma across the country.
According to researcher Dr Alberto Arnedo-Pena, of Castellón, Valencia, the key factor is probably vitamin D, which is generated by sunlight.
Some 45,000 children and teenagers were involved in the research in nine Spanish cities.
The findings have been published in the International Journal of Biometeorology.
They show much higher rates of the disease in the "colder, wetter" cities of northern Spain than in the south of the country.
Dr Arnedo-Pena said: "Prolonged exposure to the sun can cause cancer, but it’s also dangerous to avoid it. There has to be a balance between the pros and cons."
He said: "Although we need more studies on this issue – this hypothesis is not even five years old – it is clear that an average level of sun exposure is important for the assimilation of vitamin D, a compound that is extremely important in preventing illnesses such as asthma, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases."
Int J Biometeorol (2011) 55:423-434.
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