Nutritional factors in the pathogenesis of ear disease in children: a systematic review

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#adolescent #child #child-preschool #chronic-disease #developing-countries

Nutritional factors in the pathogenesis of ear disease in children: a systematic review

Elemraid et al., 2009 | Ann Trop Paediatr | Systematic Review

Citation

Elemraid M A, Mackenzie I J, ... Brabin B J. Nutritional factors in the pathogenesis of ear disease in children: a systematic review. Ann Trop Paediatr. 2009-Jun;29(2):85-99. doi:10.1179/146532809X440707

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ear disease is a major health problem in poorly resourced countries. The role of nutritional deficiencies in its pathogenesis and in relation to chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) has not been reviewed previously. METHODS: A systematic review was undertaken using Pubmed, SCOPUS, Cinahl on Ovid, the Cochrane Database and selected medical journals, with no language restriction. Nutritional mechanisms potentially related to ear disease and CSOM risks were reviewed. All studies (observational, case-control, cohort and clinical trials including randomised controlled trials) with nutrition-related information were included. The titles and/or abstracts of all retrieved studies were reviewed and full articles were obtained for relevant studies. Exclusion criteria were multiple publication or studies which did not report nutritional information. RESULTS: Supplementation studies using single micronutrients and vitamins to determine efficacy in reducing acute or chronic otitis media provided some evidence for an association of middle-ear pathology with deficiencies of zinc or vitamin A. Multi-micronutrient supplementation studies provided further support for a beneficial effect, although the number of studies was small and they were heterogeneous and uncontrolled. No human study was identified which specifically examined the association between copper, selenium or vitamin D status and middle-ear disease or infection. CONCLUSION: Particularly in developing countries, research on micronutrient status and vitamin deficiency and their influence on middle-ear disease is required to improve knowledge of the pathogenesis of middle-ear infection and to determine the relevance of nutritional interventions in prevention and treatment.

Key Findings

Supplementation studies using single micronutrients and vitamins to determine efficacy in reducing acute or chronic otitis media provided some evidence for an association of middle-ear pathology with deficiencies of zinc or vitamin A. Multi-micronutrient supplementation studies provided further support for a beneficial effect, although the number of studies was small and they were heterogeneous and uncontrolled. No human study was identified which specifically examined the association between co

Outcomes Measured

  • Requires manual extraction

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition deficiency

MeSH Terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Chronic Disease
  • Developing Countries
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Micronutrients
  • Nutrition Disorders
  • Otitis Media, Suppurative
  • Vitamin A Deficiency
  • Zinc

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Systematic Review
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Systematic Review
  • Vertical: vitamin-a

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-09