Progress in association of vitamin D and bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm infants

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains a common problem in preterm infants and affects the prognosis of these infants. Apart from playing a role in bone metabolism, vitamin D is also involved in regulation of gene expression, immunity, inflammation responses and lung development and restoration, which happens to coincide with the pathological process of BPD, suggesting its potential role in the pathogenesis of BPD. In addition, preterm infants are at high risk of vitamin D deficiency, hence more in-depth research on the association between vitamin D deficiency and BPD in preterm infants is needed. In recent years, some animal experiments had shown evidence of the benefits from vitamin D against BPD, but more clinical research is required. Vitamin D supplementation in early life may be a new approach to prevent and treat BPD. Key words: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia; Vitamin D; Vitamin D deficiency; Infant, premature