Vitamin A supplementation prevents the bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature infants: A systematic review and meta-analysis

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#bronchopulmonary-dysplasia #dietary-supplements #female #humans #infant-newborn

Vitamin A supplementation prevents the bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature infants: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Ding et al., 2021 | Medicine (Baltimore) | Meta Analysis

Citation

Ding Yueqin, Chen Zhifeng, Lu Yanling. Vitamin A supplementation prevents the bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature infants: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021-Jan-22;100(3):e23101. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000023101

Abstract

BACKGROUND: It is necessary to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of vitamin A supplementation on the bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants. METHODS: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the role of supplemental vitamin A in preterm infants were searched. The Medline et al databases were manually searched from inception to April 30, 2020. Related outcomes including incidence of BPD, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), sepsis and mortality were assessed with Review Manager 5.3 software, and Random-effect model was applied for all conditions. RESULTS: A total of 9 RCTs with 1409 patients were included. The analyzed results showed that the incidence of BPD in vitamin A group was significantly less than that of control group (OR = 0.67, 95%CI [0.52-0.88]). There was no significant difference in the incidence of ROP (OR = 0.65, 95%CI [0.29-1.48]), NEC (OR = 0.88, 95%CI [0.59-1.30]), IVH (OR = 0.90, 95%CI [0.65-1.25]), sepsis (OR = 0.84, 95%CI [0.64-1.09]) and mortality (OR = 0.98, 95%CI [0.72-1.34]) among two groups. CONCLUSION: Vitamin A supplementation is beneficial to the prophylaxis of BPD in premature infants, further studies on the administration approaches and dosages of vitamin A in premature infants are warranted.

Key Findings

A total of 9 RCTs with 1409 patients were included. The analyzed results showed that the incidence of BPD in vitamin A group was significantly less than that of control group (OR = 0.67, 95%CI [0.52-0.88]). There was no significant difference in the incidence of ROP (OR = 0.65, 95%CI [0.29-1.48]), NEC (OR = 0.88, 95%CI [0.59-1.30]), IVH (OR = 0.90, 95%CI [0.65-1.25]), sepsis (OR = 0.84, 95%CI [0.64-1.09]) and mortality (OR = 0.98, 95%CI [0.72-1.34]) among two groups.

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size 1409
Age Range See abstract
Condition See abstract

MeSH Terms

  • Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature
  • Male
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn
  • Vitamin A

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Meta Analysis
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Meta-Analysis, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: vitamin-a

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09