Zinc for Ear Pain

Zinc supplementation does not prevent otitis media in healthy, well-nourished children, and there is no evidence it relieves ear pain.

Overview

Zinc supplementation does not prevent otitis media in healthy, well-nourished children, and there is no evidence it relieves ear pain.

Verdict

Not supported

Cochrane found no benefit for preventing ear infection in well-nourished children. Save zinc for a use where it works.

How It Works

Zinc supports lymphocyte function and mucosal barrier integrity, and correcting deficiency reduces infection burden in malnourished populations. That rationale does not transfer to children with adequate zinc status.

Dosing & Protocol

Typical dose

Recommended dose: Not recommended for this use
Expected timeframe: Not applicable; no benefit expected.

Protocol

form: Not applicable
duration: Not applicable
co factor: The verdict is no. Zinc has been studied for tinnitus and age-related hearing loss at 66-90 mg elemental zinc daily, with Cochrane finding no convincing benefit, and it has never been tested as a treatment for earache. There is no plausible route by which oral zinc relieves the pressure pain of otitis media or the inflammation of otitis externa. The one adjacent finding - that zinc supplementation may slightly reduce ear infection episodes in malnourished, zinc-deficient children - is prevention in a specific population, not pain relief.
titration: Not applicable
starting dose: Not applicable

Evidence

What the studies say

A Cochrane review of zinc supplements for preventing otitis media (Gulani and Sachdev, updated 2014) pooled twelve trials in over 6,000 children and found no significant reduction in episodes of acute otitis media in healthy children. A signal was present in a subgroup of severely malnourished infants, consistent with correcting deficiency rather than a pharmacological effect. No trial has evaluated zinc for the treatment of ear pain or established otitis media, and zinc lozenges — which have some evidence in the common cold — have not been shown to affect ear symptoms.

No studies are yet linked to both Zinc and Ear Pain.

Safety

Caveats

Doses above 40 mg daily long-term impair copper absorption and can cause anaemia and neurological symptoms. Zinc on an empty stomach commonly causes nausea.

Less likely to help if

Essentially everyone with adequate zinc status, which is most children in high-income settings.

Medical Disclaimer

The information provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or before starting any supplement regimen.

Individual results may vary. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products and information are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.