Does vitamin D reduce acute otitis episodes in children who are prone to them?
Does vitamin D reduce acute otitis episodes in children who are prone to them? A study in 116 children with a history of recurrent acute otitis media (AOM) found that receiving oral vitamin D (1,000 IU/d) for 4 months did indeed significantly reduce the risk of developing uncomplicated AOM during this period compared with receiving placebo. However, the supplementation did not reduce the likelihood of spontaneous otorrhea (Marchisio P, et al. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2013;32[10]:1055-1060).
MS FREEDMAN is a freelance medical editor and writer in New Jersey. DR BURKE, section editor for Journal Club, is chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Saint Agnes Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland. He is a contributing editor for Contemporary Pediatrics. The author and editor have nothing to disclose in regard to affiliations with or financial interests in any organizations that may have an interest in any part of this article.