Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) remains a major complication of very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants. Vitamin A is essential for lung development and epithelial integrity, and deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of BPD.
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of prophylactic oral high-dose vitamin A supplementation on the incidence of BPD in preterm infants with a gestational age ≤32 weeks and birth weight \<1250 g.
In this randomized controlled trial, preterm infants were assigned to receive either oral vitamin A supplementation or standard care. The primary outcome was the development of BPD. Secondary outcomes included mortality and other neonatal morbidities.
The findings of this study may provide evidence regarding the effectiveness of oral vitamin A supplementation as a simple and accessible strategy to reduce the risk of BPD in preterm infants.