UVB: Skin to Gut Study

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This research will explore the potential effects of Narrow-Band Ultra Violet B (NB-UVB) radiation on the intestinal microbiota composition and confirm a regulatory skin-to-gut axis during baseline conditions. Changes in the intestinal microbiota composition caused by NB-UVB phototherapy could be beneficial for patients with chronic/auto-inflammatory diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by removing dangerous bacteria, increasing beneficial bacteria, and ultimately modulating immune responses.

Detailed Description
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Purpose: To explore the potential effects of Narrow-Band Ultra Violet B (NB-UVB) radiation on the intestinal microbiota composition in humans and confirm a regulatory skin-to-gut axis during baseline conditions. Hypothesis: Humans exposed to UVB-NB light will show changes in the intestinal microbiota composition with the selection of certain phyla of bacteria. Justification: To date, there is no data that describes a biological response to UVB light in the body that affects the intestinal microbiota. Changes in the intestinal microbiota composition caused by NB-UVB phototherapy could be beneficial for patients with chronic/auto-inflammatory diseases like IBD by removing dangerous bacteria, increasing beneficial bacteria, and ultimately modulating immune responses. Objectives: Establish if there is a skin regulatory response towards NB-UVB light in humans. Examine what changes in the microbiota composition can be observed on bacterial phyla and class level. Determine if this research is worth pursuing in a larger cohort. Research design: During the first visit, the skin type will be assessed by using the Fitzpatrick skin type questionnaire. Subsequently, subjects will be exposed three times within one week to full body NB-UVB light in The Skin Care Centre to a sub erythemic dose (cause slight redness of the skin but not burning). The exposures will happen during the winter months to prevent UVB exposure from the sun during daily activities to interfere with our observations. Stool samples will be collected before the first exposure (2x) and after the last exposure (2x) to analyze the microbiota composition. Also, serum vitamin D (25-hydroxy vitamin D) will be measured before and after the UVB exposure as a marker of previous UVB exposure before the experiment.

Official Title
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Intestinal Microbiota Changes After Ultra Violet Radiation B Exposure

Conditions
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Healthy

Intervention / Treatment
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* Radiation: NB-UVB light exposure


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Healthy Caucasian females Fitzpatrick skin type I, II or III Exclusion Criteria: Skin photosensitivity due to medication Been on vacation to a sunny destination three months before enrollment Visit tanning beds on a regular basis in the past

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 19 Years
Maximum Age: 40 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Female

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Interventional Model Description: All participants are receiving the same treatment of which the UVB dose is adjusted for the participants Fitzpatrick skin type.
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: UVB- exposure<br>Each participant will receive a pre-determined dose of UVB light. Serum Vitamin D and microbiome samples of each participant will be compared before and after the UVB light exposures. | Radiation: NB-UVB light exposure<br>* Participants are exposed to three low dose Narrow Band UVB light.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Serum vitamin D | The effect of UVB light exposures on the serum vitamin D concentrations | 1 week | 
| Microbiome | Changes in the fecal microbiome composition after the UVB light exposures | Before and after the UVB exposures (1 week apart) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Phototherapy, Microbiome, Vitamin D