Vitamin D and the lung

The importance of vitamin D in nonskeletal fetal and childhood health has become increasingly recognized in the last decades. Vitamin D is an important nutrient in lung development from early on in fetal life and dysfunction of the vitamin D pathway through either shortness of vitamin D intake or dysregulation in its activation can have a serious impact on lung health after birth. Additionally, the role of vitamin D has been recognized in the host immunity against respiratory infections in early as well as in adult life with the clearing of the pathogen and recovery of the lung tissue. This chapter will highlight the relevance of vitamin D in lung development and in respiratory health from early life to adulthood and will focus on the possible role of vitamin D supplementation in fighting against respiratory infections.