Effectiveness of Maternal Vitamin D Supplementation in Preventing Respiratory Tract Infections in Children

Abstract

Vitamin D exhibits a hormone-like action in our body and the deficiency or insufficiency of vitamin D is known to be related to the occurrence or prognosis of various diseases. In the Korean Journal of Family Medicine, papers on the relationship between vitamin D levels and colon polyps,1) autoimmune thyroid disease,2) lung function,3) dry eyes,4) cardiovascular disease risk,5) and quality of life6) were published. Among these effects, vitamin D is known to play an important role in bone growth and immune function. Although it is known that the administration of vitamin D reduces respiratory infections, there has been an interest in whether vitamin D administration during pregnancy reduces respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in newborns.