ascorbic-acid and Otitis-Media-with-Effusion

To evaluate the ability of oral supplements with immune-stimulating molecules (Sambucus nigra, Zinc, Tyndallized Lactobacillus acidophilus (HA122), Arabinogalactans, vitamin D, vitamin E and vitamin C) to reduce the inflammation of the upper airway tract and improve the outcome of otitis media with effusion (OME) in children.. Randomized controlled trial. One-hundred ninety-eight children (CI 95%: 12-96 months) were divided into four groups. Group 1 (48 subjects) received 10 ml of oral supplements (OS) with immune-stimulating molecules for three months (20 days consecutively, then 10 days of suspension - the therapeutic scheme was repeated three times); Group 2 (54 children) underwent treatment with 10 ml of OS for 90 consecutive days; Group 3 (48 subjects) received 15 ml of OS for 45 consecutive days; a control group (48 children) underwent the standard treatment for rhinitis and OME. Outcome measures included otoscopy, tympanometry, fibroendoscopy, and the pure tone audiometry (PTA) at T0 (before treatment), T1 (45 days after treatment), and T2 (90 days after treatment).. All children treated with OS showed a reduction of Upper Airway Infection (UAI) episodes and OME compared to the control group independent of the administration method and posology. The three groups treated with OS showed statistically significant differences between T0 and T2 for otoscopy, tympanometry, fibroendoscopy, and PTA. In Group 2, the otoscopy and the tympanometry scores improved at T1. Group 2 and 3 had better PTA results than Group 1.. OS with immune-stimulating molecules should be considered as a supporting therapy in children affected by recurrent episodes of UAI associated with OME due to their capacity to improve the immune response and reduce the inflammatory phenomena. OS can improve the fibroendoscopic findings by restoring middle ear ventilation, in addition to their ability to reduce inflammation in the middle ear.

Topics: Acoustic Impedance Tests; Administration, Oral; Ascorbic Acid; Audiometry, Pure-Tone; Child; Child, Preschool; Combined Modality Therapy; Female; Galactans; Humans; Infant; Lactobacillus acidophilus; Male; Otitis Media with Effusion; Otoscopy; Sambucus nigra; Treatment Outcome; Vitamin D; Vitamin E; Vitamins; Zinc

The purpose of this study was to determine if free oxygen radicals (FORs) and antioxidant enzyme activities have some role in pathogenesis of otitis media with effusion (OME) in children with adenoid hyperplasia.. Seventy-four patients were enrolled in three groups of this study. The study group (Group I) included 26 patients who had adenoidectomy with ventilation tube placement due to chronic OME. The control adenoid group (Group II) consisted of 28 age-matched patients who had adenoidectomy without ventilation tube insertion. Twenty children were included in the healthy control group (Group III). Erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) enzyme activities were investigated in the venous blood sample.. Erythrocyte MDA level and GSH-Px enzyme activity in the blood samples of study group (Group I) were significantly higher than those of Group II and Group III (P < 0.05). SOD enzyme activity in the blood samples of Group I was significantly lower than Group II (P < 0.05), and were significantly higher than Group III (P < 0.05). CAT enzyme activity of Group I was significantly lower than that of Group III (P < 0.05). However, there was no statistically significant difference between Group I and Group II regarding CAT antioxidant enzyme activity (P < 0.05).. The inflammation of the middle ear increases the level of FORs in erythrocyte. FOR level is normally maintained at a steady state by antioxidant enzymes. When the antioxidant defense system is weakened, the increased FORs may contribute to OME formation. We supposed that, antioxidant vitamins C and E, and scavenger enzymes such as CAT, SOD and GSH-Px may be added in the management of OME.

Topics: Adenoidectomy; Adolescent; Ascorbic Acid; Catalase; Child; Child, Preschool; Erythrocytes; Female; Free Radicals; Glutathione Peroxidase; Humans; Male; Malondialdehyde; Otitis Media with Effusion; Reactive Oxygen Species; Superoxide Dismutase; Tonsillectomy; Vitamin E