Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 15, 2026

A Mouse Model for the Transition of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Colonizer to Pathogen upon Viral Co-Infection Recapitulates Age-Exacerbated Illness
12:21

A Mouse Model for the Transition of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Colonizer to Pathogen upon Viral Co-Infection Recapitulates Age-Exacerbated Illness

Published on: September 28, 2022

Vitamin D Roles Across Developmental Stages in Pediatric Pneumonia: Linking Genetics, Microbiome, Maternal Status and

Nurshad Ali1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Sylhet Bangladesh.

Health Science Reports
|May 14, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in pediatric pneumonia prevention and treatment by enhancing immune responses. This review synthesizes evidence on vitamin D

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric immunology
  • Nutritional science
  • Respiratory medicine

Background:

  • Pneumonia is a major global child health concern, particularly in resource-limited settings.
  • Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in children and linked to increased respiratory infection risk.
  • This review examines vitamin D's role in pediatric pneumonia across different developmental stages.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize current evidence on vitamin D's role in pediatric pneumonia.
  • To explore vitamin D's impact on immune development and pneumonia risk in children.
  • To provide an integrated perspective on vitamin D-mediated immune responses and clinical outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature search across major scientific databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar).
  • Screening of peer-reviewed articles including observational studies, RCTs, and reviews.
  • Synthesis of evidence from immunology, genetics, maternal health, and microbiome research.

Main Results:

  • Vitamin D enhances innate and adaptive immunity by inducing antimicrobial peptides, improving macrophage function, and modulating T-cell responses.
  • Low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are consistently associated with increased pneumonia risk and severity.
  • Factors like maternal status, VDR polymorphisms, and microbiome interactions influence vitamin D's efficacy.

Conclusions:

  • Vitamin D biology is intrinsically linked to immune system development and pneumonia risk in children.
  • Age-specific vitamin D supplementation strategies are crucial for effective prevention and management.
  • Further mechanistic and clinical studies are needed to optimize vitamin D's role in pediatric pneumonia care.
Abstract

Keywords:
immune maturationmaternal vitamin Dmicrobiomepediatric pneumoniavitamin Dvitamin D receptor

More Related Videos

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels05:31

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels

Published on: August 7, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Development of Human Microbiota01:30

Development of Human Microbiota

The human microbiota begins developing at birth and undergoes continual change as we age. Infancy marks a critical period of microbial sensitivity, offering a “window of opportunity” during which beneficial microbes help mature the immune system. By age three, children typically develop a more stable and diverse microbial community. Newborns acquire microbes from their immediate environment; vaginal delivery favors maternal vaginal microbes, while cesarean births favor microbes from the skin...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis01:23

Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis

The skin plays a crucial role in the synthesis of vitamin D, a vital nutrient for various physiological processes in the body. Vitamin D is unique because it can be synthesized in the skin through a series of chemical reactions triggered by exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight.
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin D3(cholecalciferol).
Development of the Oral Microbiota01:28

Development of the Oral Microbiota

The establishment of the oral microbiome begins before birth, challenging the long-held belief that the fetal oral cavity is sterile. The presence of oral microbes such as Streptococcus and Fusobacterium in amniotic fluid suggests that microbial exposure may occur in utero, potentially through translocation from the maternal oral or gastrointestinal tract. This early colonization primes the neonatal immune system and sets the stage for subsequent microbial succession. Maternal health,...
Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology01:29

Pneumonia II: Pathophysiology

The pathophysiology of pneumonia involves the following steps:
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...