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Xylitol administered only during respiratory infections failed to prevent acute otitis media
Terhi Tapiainen1, Leevi Luotonen, Tero Kontiokari
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland. ttapiai@paju.oulu.fi
Insights
Xylitol given only during acute respiratory infections (ARIs) did not prevent acute otitis media (AOM) in children. This study found no significant difference in AOM occurrence between xylitol and control groups during ARIs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Previous research indicated regular xylitol administration effectively prevents acute otitis media (AOM) in children.
- The current study investigated a targeted xylitol intervention during acute respiratory infections (ARIs).
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if xylitol, administered solely during acute respiratory infections (ARIs), reduces the incidence of acute otitis media (AOM) in children.
Main Methods:
- A randomized, double-blind trial involving 1277 healthy children from childcare centers.
- Participants received xylitol or control in mixture, chewing gum, or lozenge form during ARIs.
- Follow-up lasted until symptom resolution or up to 3 weeks.
Main Results:
- Out of 1253 analyzed children, 980 experienced at least one ARI during the 4-month trial.
- The occurrence of AOM was not statistically different between xylitol and control groups across all administration forms (mixture, gum, lozenges).
- Specific AOM rates were: xylitol mixture (20.5%), control mixture (20.4%), control gum (11.0%), xylitol gum (14.1%), and xylitol lozenges (15.5%).
Conclusions:
- Xylitol administration limited to the duration of an acute respiratory infection (ARI) is ineffective in preventing acute otitis media (AOM).
- The findings suggest that intermittent xylitol use during ARIs does not offer the same protective benefits as regular administration for AOM prevention.
Objective:
As regular administration of xylitol had been effective in preventing acute otitis media (AOM) in children, we tested whether xylitol administered only at times of acute respiratory infection (ARI) reduces the occurrence of AOM.
Methods:
Healthy children (N = 1277) were recruited from child care centers and randomized after screening with tympanometry to receive either control mixture (n = 212), xylitol mixture (n = 212), control chewing gum (n = 280), xylitol chewing gum (n = 286), or xylitol lozenges (n = 287) during an ARI. The trial was randomized and double blinded within the mixture and chewing gum groups. The parents began administering the products to their children at the onset of symptoms of ARI. The follow-up lasted until resolution of the symptoms or up to 3 weeks.
Results:
A total of 1253 of the 1277 randomized children were eligible for the analysis. Altogether, 980 (78%) of 1253 children had at least 1 episode of ARI during the 4 months that the trial lasted. The occurrence of AOM during this episode was 34 (20.5%) of 166 in the xylitol mixture group, as compared with 32 (20.4%) of 157 among the children who received the control mixture. Among the older children who received control chewing gum, xylitol chewing gum, or xylitol lozenges, AOM was experienced by 24 (11.0%) of 218, 31 (14.1%) of 220, and 34 (15.5%) of 219, respectively. None of the differences between the groups was statistically significant.
Conclusions:
Xylitol administered only during an ARI was ineffective in preventing AOM.