Light pollution and risk of diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

Mar 2, 2026Frontiers in public health

Light pollution and its link to diabetes risk: a review of observational studies

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Abstract

exposure is associated with a 31% increase in diabetes risk.

  • Six studies were included in the quantitative analysis, sourced from a total of 2,115 identified studies.
  • Severe light pollution is correlated with a 19% increased risk of diabetes.
  • Low to moderate light pollution exposure is linked to a 10% increased risk of diabetes.
  • Indoor light pollution shows a stronger association, with a 66% increased risk of diabetes.
  • Heterogeneity in findings may arise from variations in sample size, types of light pollution, and study quality.

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Key numbers

1.31
Increase in Diabetes Risk
for exposure
1.66
Indoor Risk Increase
for indoor
1.19
Severe Risk Increase
for severe

Full Text

What this is

  • This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the link between and diabetes risk.
  • It synthesizes data from six observational studies to quantify this association.
  • The findings suggest that exposure to , particularly indoors, is linked to a higher risk of diabetes.

Essence

  • exposure is associated with a 31% increase in diabetes risk, especially from indoor sources, according to a systematic review of observational studies.

Key takeaways

  • exposure correlates with a 31% increase in diabetes risk (: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.13-1.33). This indicates a significant relationship between environmental light exposure and metabolic health.
  • Indoor shows a stronger association with diabetes risk (: 1.66, 95% CI: 1.15-2.39) compared to outdoor (: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04-1.15). This suggests that indoor environments may pose a greater risk.
  • Subgroup analyses reveal that severe (: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.14-1.24) and low to moderate (: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.06-1.14) are also linked to increased diabetes risk, indicating a gradient of risk based on exposure severity.

Caveats

  • The analysis is based on only six studies, limiting the robustness of the findings. More comprehensive research is needed to confirm these associations.
  • Heterogeneity among studies may affect the reliability of the results, as variations in study design and exposure assessment were noted.
  • Potential publication bias could exist despite no significant evidence detected, which may influence the perceived strength of the association.

Definitions

  • light pollution: Excessive artificial light at night that disrupts natural darkness, potentially impacting health.
  • Odds Ratio (OR): A measure of association between exposure and an outcome, indicating the odds of the outcome occurring with exposure compared to without.

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