Can the effects of UV light on folate explain the full variation?

Can the effects of UV light on folate explain the full variation?

The greater amount of eumelanin in darker skin protects folate from being broken down by UV radiation and thus increases fitness among populations in high-intensity UV areas. However, it does not explain why there is variation in human skin color.

Can folate explain the variation and distribution of light and dark skinned individuals around the world explain?

15. Can folate alone explain the variation and distribution of light/dark skinned individuals around the world? No. Higher melanin isn’t ideal for vitamin D production and thermoregulation at higher altitudes.

How does melanin protect folate?

Folate may also play a part in skin immune responses, although this role is not well understood. It could be suggested that folate and melanin compounds are synergistic; melanin, on the one hand, protects folate from UVR-related degradation, which in turn supports the influence of folate in melanogenesis.

Why would dark skin be an advantage in regards to protecting our folate stores?

-Melanin absorbs UV rays very effectively, making up to 99.9% of them harmless. – So melanin protects nearby skin cells from UV damage, dramatically reducing risk of skin cancer. -Melanin also shields the body’s light-sensitive vitamins (A, B2, E, and folic acid) from UV rays.

At which latitude is UV exposure the highest quizlet?

UV radiation is most intense near the equator and least intense toward the poles. Students may also say it is most intense at lower latitudes and increasingly intense as latitude increases.

What pigment absorbs UV light?

Melanin
Melanin absorbs UV radiation and reduces the UV-induced damage in the melanocytes and keratinocytes.

How does UV affect folate?

In vitro studies have shown that UV radiation can degrade folate and folic acid in human blood and this has been confirmed in several human studies. Despite these findings, there is a dearth of epidemiological research into investigating the relationship between folate status and the links to solar UV exposure.

What is the relationship between melanin UV light and folate?

A higher level of melanin allows normal folate synthesis by absorbing the UV radiation, and can allow for normal gestation and fetal development. Essentially, evolution allowed for a feature (darker skin) that would allow healthy and successful reproduction.

How does UV radiation affect skin color?

The outer layer of the skin has cells that contain the pigment melanin. Melanin protects skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. These can burn the skin and reduce its elasticity, leading to premature aging. People tan because sunlight causes the skin to produce more melanin and darken.

What is a benefit to having some UV exposure?

Benefits. Beneficial effects of UV radiation include the production of vitamin D, a vitamin essential to human health. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus from food and assists bone development. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 5 to 15 minutes of sun exposure 2 to 3 times a week.

How does UV light affect melanin production?

Melanin protects skin from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. These can burn the skin and reduce its elasticity, leading to premature aging. People tan because sunlight causes the skin to produce more melanin and darken. The tan fades when new cells move to the surface and the tanned cells are sloughed off.