New evidence
Vitamin C cut bronchopulmonary dysplasia risk by 41% in very preterm infants — but evidence for this single early finding is low certainty.
This is the first solid data linking vitamin C to a specific lung complication in premature babies, but with only 538 infants and no neurodevelopmental benefit seen, it's too early to recommend supplementation based on this result alone.
A meta-analysis of 538 very preterm infants found that vitamin C supplementation was associated with a 41% lower risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, a chronic lung disease. However, the same study found vitamin C had no effect on survival free from neurodisability, and the overall evidence was rated low certainty — meaning the real effect could be smaller or nonexistent.
Where this fits in the evidence
This is among the first studies we've indexed on Vitamin C for Reduced Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia — treat it as an early signal until more research accumulates.
The study
- Meta-Analysis
- n = 538
- 2025-07-09
- PloS one
This is a plain-language summary of a research finding, not medical advice. Pillser surfaces research signals to help you decide what's worth investigating — always consult a qualified professional before changing what you take.