January 31/Perth, Australia/ABC Premium News (Australia) -- Australian researchers have found vitamin D deficiency can lead to poor lung function and changes in lung growth.

Doctor Graeme Zosky from Perth's Telethon Institute compared two-week-old mice with vitamin D deficiency to normal mice. He found mice with a vitamin D deficiency had weaker lungs and that the difference was substantial.

"This finding is an important first step," Zosky said. "We need to do more research to see if there is a benefit in giving vitamin D supplements to pregnant women or babies at higher risk of lung disease as a preventative strategy."

The research has implications for preventing lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  

From the February 1, 2011, Prepared Foods' Daily News
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