Cod liver oil shows promiseLemon-flavored cod liver oil and a multivitamin-mineral supplement for the secondary prevention of otitis media in young children: pilot research.
Effect on ear infections evaluated
We observed the potential benefits of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a crucial fatty acid found in cod liver oil, in the context of ear infections, particularly in children. Our study included eight children aged between 0.8 and 4.4 years who were undergoing treatment for ear issues. The children received daily supplements of lemon-flavored cod liver oil, which includes EPA, along with a children's multivitamin that contained selenium.
Before the supplementation, we noticed that the children were prescribed antibiotics for ear infections a significant number of days. However, during the period of taking these supplements, they required antibiotics for 12.3% fewer days. This finding suggests that addressing nutritional deficiencies with these specific supplements might help reduce the frequency of prescriptions for antibiotics.
While the results are promising, it’s important to note that the study was small and more research is needed to fully understand how EPA works in this context. These initial findings indicate that there’s an exciting possibility of using cod liver oil and a multivitamin-mineral combination as preventive measures against ear infections in young children.
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