Anthropocentric lighting as the environmental preventive technology: from circadian rhythms to dyslipidemia

In Arctic regions, seasonality and the prevalence of artificial lighting contribute to a mismatch between light exposure and endogenous circadian rhythms, acting as independent predictors of cardiometabolic risk. Objective. To systematize data on the relationship between daily changes in light exposure with optimal circadian organization and the lipid profile, and to assess the preventive potential of anthropocentric lighting in the Arctic and middle latitudes. Materials and methods. A structured search was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, PubMed Central, Scopus, Web of Science, eLIBRARY.ru, and Google Scholar for terms related to light exposure, circadian markers (sleep, activity, melatonin), and lipids (total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), triglycerides (TG), TG/HDL). Included in the analysis were studies in adults with quantitative assessment of light and lipid parameters. Results. Included were 20 studies (6 conducted in the Arctic) involving about 340.000 participants. It was shown that the diurnal light profile (day-night contrast) is more important than the photoperiod duration: a higher nocturnal short-wave exposure was associated with an atherogenic lipid profile (an increase in TC, LDL, and TG), while a large day-night amplitude was associated with more favorable levels of TG/HDL. Anthropocentric lighting improves circadian phase (as measured by melatonin levels) and sleep; however, data on lipid profile correction are limited due to heterogeneity in light metrics, incomplete consideration of shift work, meal time, and drug therapy, and a lack of interventional studies. Conclusion. Anthropocentric lighting is a potentially scalable preventive technology in the Arctic, with a shortage of daylight and sub-optimal circadian light hygiene, regardless of climatic and geographical conditions. Further prospective studies with validated exposure assessment are needed.