ascorbic-acid and Otitis-Media

To evaluate earlier observations, including our own, showing usefulness of vitamin C for managing the common cold, we performed a double-blind trial of vitamin C versus placebo in 868 children. There was no difference in number becoming ill (133 versus 129), number of episodes (166 versus 159) or mean illness duration (5.5 versus 5.8 days) between the groups. Children receiving vitamin C had fewer throat cultures yielding beta-hemolytic streptococcus (six versus 13, P less than 0.10), but no difference in overall complicated illness rate (24 versus 25). Plasma ascorbic acid levels were higher in the vitamin group 24 to 26 hours after supplementation (1.28 versus 1.04 mg per 100 ml, P less than 0.01). Children with high plasma ascorbic acid concentrations had longer mean illness (6.8 versus 4.0 days, P less than 0.05) than those with low levels. Vitamin C does not seem to be an effective prophylactic or therapeutic agent for upper respiratory illness.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adolescent; Age Factors; Arizona; Ascorbic Acid; Child; Clinical Trials as Topic; Common Cold; Female; Humans; Indians, North American; Male; Otitis Media; Placebos; Respiratory Tract Infections; Time Factors

Ten patients with neutrophil dysfunctions and recurrent pyogenic infections, mainly of the skin middle-ear, and respiratory tract, are described. The most frequently affected functions were chemotaxis and bacterial killing. Pharmacologic restoration of functional defects was tried in all cases. Levamisole was given in two cases and ascorbic acid in the other eight cases. During a follow up of at least 18 months, seven patients showed a complete restoration of neutrophil function and a long-lasting clinical remission. One of the two patients with Chronic Granulomatous Disease has been free from infections for 1 year, despite persistent neutrophil dysfunction, while the other did not display consistent clinical improvement. Another patient, who was given ascorbic acid for a short period only due to non compliance, showed neither laboratory nor clinical improvement.

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Bacterial Infections; Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; Child; Child, Preschool; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Female; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Infant; Levamisole; Male; Neutrophils; Otitis Media; Phagocytosis; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Skin Diseases, Infectious

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Chronic Disease; Female; Guinea Pigs; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Otitis Media; Tympanic Membrane

Topics: Animals; Ascorbic Acid; Chronic Disease; Ear, Middle; Guinea Pigs; Humans; Mucous Membrane; Otitis Media

Topics: Ascorbic Acid; Ear; Ear, Middle; Humans; Otitis Media; Tuberculosis; Vitamins