A favourable effect of vitamin D supplementation on the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) has been reported, which may be elicited through activation of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) signalling pathway, and a consequential decrease of cytokine/chemokine hypersecretion, modulation of the activity of neutrophils and preservation of the integrity of the pulmonary epithelial barrier (8). This evidence concerns the gene VDR and acute respiratory distress syndrome.