A new study published in Thorax found that higher blood levels of vitamin A are linked to better lung function in both children and adults, while vitamin D showed similar benefits specifically in adults. Researchers measured key lung metrics — forced expiratory volume and forced vital capacity — and found significant positive correlations with vitamin A across age groups. The team also explored the biological mechanisms, finding that epigenetic changes (DNA methylation) and gene regulators (miRNAs) partially explain how these vitamins influence lung performance. Notably, reduced methylation of the IRF5 gene was tied to improved lung function in both groups. The findings suggest vitamins A and D may play different roles across the lifespan, supporting lung development in children and repair in adults.
