Cell Metabolism: Natural daylight during office hours improves glucose control and whole‑body substrate metabolism

Cell Metabolism: Natural daylight during office hours improves glucose control and whole‑body substrate metabolismFeatured Image

Natural daylight exposure during office hours significantly improves glucose control and fat oxidation in individuals with type 2 diabetes, as shown in this randomized crossover study published in Cell Metabolism.​

Key Findings

  • Participants spent more time in the normal glucose range (4.4–7.2 mmol/L) under natural daylight versus artificial lighting, with lower 24-hour glucose amplitude fluctuations.​
  • Daylight increased whole-body fat oxidation, evening melatonin levels, and altered serum multi-omic signatures (e.g., higher cholic acid, glutamate; lower ceramides).​
  • Skeletal muscle biopsies and cultured myotubes showed phase-advanced clock gene expression (e.g., PER1, CRY1 higher).​

Future Directions

  • Investigate long-term effects beyond 4.5 days, including real-world office settings across seasons and age groups.​
  • Explore mechanisms like light’s impact on sleep, peripheral clocks, and postprandial glucose at different times.​
  • Test strategies like outdoor commutes to offset artificial lighting’s metabolic drawbacks.

Download PDF