Higher sun exposure is associated with a reduced risk of primary biliary cholangitis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic cholestatic disease with few identified environmental risk factors. There is both a large geographical variation and a latitudinal gradient of prevalence, which point towards an environmental factor being involved in disease pathogenesis. This study examined whether there was a relationship between lifetime sun exposure, ultraviolet (UV) load and the risk of developing PBC.

Methods

A case-control study of 200 prevalent cases and 200 age- and sex-matched controls was performed. Participants completed a lifetime calendar prior to the study interview and two validated time-in-sun questionnaires during the study interview. Satellite data were used to estimate the average daily UV load according to the latitude and longitu

SUBMITTER: French J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12809597 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature