A new study found that vitamin D deficiency increases the craving for opioids, increasing the risk of opioid dependence. Scientists believe that their discovery could help solve the problem of the use of these substances.
This research was initiated by other earlier scientific work. Then scientists discovered that exposure to ultraviolet rays causes the skin to produce the hormone endorphin, which is chemically bound to opioids – these substances activate the same receptors in the brain. An experiment in mice showed that exposure to ultraviolet light increases endorphin levels in animals, and then they exhibit behavior consistent with opioid dependence.
The fact that endorphins are produced may explain why people tend to sunbathe. In addition, under the action of ultraviolet rays in humans, vitamin D is synthesized in the skin. Therefore, scientists have concluded that the desire of people to be in the sun can also be explained by a deficiency of this substance. At the same time, given the early information on the release of endorphins, it can be assumed that the lack of vitamin D also causes cravings for opioids in humans. A new experiment in mice has confirmed this hypothesis.
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