Xylitol syrup for the prevention of acute otitis media
Vernacchio L, Corwin MJ, Vezina RM, Pelton SI, Feldman HA, Coyne-Beasley T, et al.
Published in Pediatrics, Vol. 133 (2), pp. 289-95
Methodology
Pragmatic, practice-based randomised trial in the United States in 326 otitis-prone children aged 6 months to 5 years: viscous xylitol solution 5 g three times a day (n=160) versus placebo (n=166).
Key Findings
Time to first clinically diagnosed acute otitis media: hazard ratio 0.88 (95% CI 0.61 to 1.3). Incidence was 0.53 episodes per 90 days with xylitol versus 0.59 with placebo. Antibiotic use was 6.8 versus 6.4 days per 90 days. Non-adherence did not explain the result (hazard ratio 0.93, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.57 for near-complete adherence versus none).
Conclusions
The authors concluded that xylitol solution at 5 g three times a day was ineffective in reducing clinically diagnosed acute otitis media in otitis-prone children.
Limitations
Three-times-a-day schedule rather than five times a day; diagnoses were clinical rather than all confirmed by a study otoscopist (pragmatic design).
Supplements Studied
was ineffective in reducing clinically diagnosed AOM among otitis-prone children
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
Access Study
This information is for educational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement regimen.