Daily supplements to help treat ear infections

A daily teaspoon of lemon-flavoured cod liver oil followed by a multi-vitamin tablet with selenium may help prevent middle ear infections in children, according to new research from the US.

Researchers from the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, writing in the current issue of Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology​, focused on 44 children with otitis media or middle ear infection.

After taking blood samples, they discovered that three important chemicals - eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), an omega-3 fatty acid that helps decrease inflammation, vitamin A and selenium - were lower in the children than in adults.

The researchers then gave supplements containing these nutrients to the children and discovered that they were able to reduce the levels of antibiotics needed to treat otitis media when they were taken in association with the supplements. Otitis media is common and expensive to treat, and often follows upper respiratory infections to which children are particularly prone during the winter.

Linda A. Linday of the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, said: "This study provides preliminary evidence that some episodes of otitis media may be prevented and that the reliance on antibiotics may be reduced among young children by using nutritional supplements. However, there is a need for larger, controlled trials to confirm our pilot study."​