Vitamin D Supplementation Reduces the Risk of Acute Otitis Media in Children

OTITIS MEDIA, CHILDREN, EAR INFECTION – Vitamin D

“Vitamin D Supplementation Reduces the Risk of Acute Otitis Media in Otitis-Prone Children,” Marchisio P, Consonni D, et al, Pediatr Infect Dis J, 2013 May 20; [Epub ahead of print]. (Address: Pediatric Clinic, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy).

In a randomized study involving 116 children with a history of recurrent acute otitis media (rAOM), supplementation with vitamin D in a dosage of 1000 IU/d for a period of 4 months was found to restore serum values of at least 30 ng/mL and was found to significantly reduce the risk of uncomplicated acute otitis media (26 of the 58 children in the active treatment group) as compared to the occurrence among children who received a placebo (38 of 58 who received placebo). No significant difference in the number of children who experienced 1 or more episodes of spontaneous otorrhea was found between the groups. The authors conclude, “VD hypovitaminosis is common in children with rAOM and associated with an increase in the occurrence of AOM when serum 25(OH)D levels are <30 ng/mL. The administration of VD in a dosage of 1,000 IU/day restores serum values of >=30 ng/mL in most cases and is associated with a significant reduction in the risk of uncomplicated AOM.”