Zinc supplements for preventing otitis media

Abstract

Evidence on whether zinc supplementation can reduce the incidence of otitis media in healthy children under the age of five years living in low- and middle-income countries is mixed. There is some evidence of benefit in children being treated for marasmus, but this is based on one small trial and should therefore be treated with caution.

Zinc in the treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss

“…A beneficial therapeutic response to zinc supplementation has been reported in the diarrhea of children,24 pneumonia,25 otitis media,26 and common cold 27. However, meta‐analysis of the studies on zinc supplementation for treating these diseases does not show enough evidence28, 29 because the quality of trials varies across studies. In general, the biologic function of zinc involves several fields in the human body, including immunity, skin, mucosa, and the nervous system 30.…”

“…Thus, zinc deficiency is associated with lower SOD activity and greater susceptibility to oxidative damage 13. In addition, zinc may replace redox reactive metals like copper and iron, and prevent copper and iron‐initiated lipid oxidation 29. It can also induce the production of metallothionein, which is an excellent scavenger of free radicals 30.…”

Otitis Media and Externa

“…While no targeted acute otitis media vaccine exists, introduction of higher-valent pneumococcal vaccines as well as increased influenza vaccination rates have resulted in risk reduction for AOM [24][25][26]. Supplementation with vitamin D and zinc has been shown to be beneficial only in children with documented nutritional deficiencies [27][28][29]. Xylitol, a polyol sugar alcohol found in raspberries, has been demonstrated to be effective at preventing acute otitis media though current dosing requirements of administration five times daily make its use limited [30].…”

URTIs: recommended diagnosis and treatment in general practice

“…36 Zinc supplements are unlikely to be helpful in the prevention of AOM. 37 An alternative approach might be to attempt to reduce the patient's exposure to modifiable risk factors; parental smoking 38 is an obvious choice, although there is no evidence to support this intervention.…”