title: Vitamin A and lung development.
abstract: Several lines of evidence suggest that vitamin A is involved in lung development. They are: 1) Dietary deficiency of the fat-soluble vitamin A results in squamous metaplasia of the tracheal and bronchial epithelium. 2) Infants with vitamin A deficiency have a high incidence of respiratory problems. 3) Levels of two intracellular proteins binding specifically retinol (vitamin A alcohol) and retinoic acid (vitamin A acid) change dramatically during perinatal lung development. 4) Prematurely born infants hospitalized for respiratory problems have low serum concentrations of retinol and retinol-binding protein. 5) Postnatal supply of vitamin A by parenteral alimentation may not be adequate, as large quantities of vitamin A are absorbed by the tubing. Careful assessment of vitamin A status in postnatal nutritional management of premature infants is desirable.
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000254:growth & development*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010288:Parenteral Nutrition; D011247:Pregnancy; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D014802:Vitamin A Deficiency / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D014801:Vitamin A