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Effects of the Traditional Mediterranean Diet in Patients with Otitis Media with Effusion
Fernando M Calatayud-Sáez1, Blanca Calatayud1, Ana Calatayud1
1Child and Adolescent Clinic "La Palma", C/Palma 17, bajo A, 13001 Ciudad Real, Spain.
Insights
The Traditional Mediterranean Diet (TMD) shows promising results in managing otitis media with effusion (OME) in children. Implementing TMD led to significant improvements in tympanometry and reduced illness episodes, suggesting its potential as a dietary intervention.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Nutritional Immunology
- Inflammation Research
Background:
- Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a prevalent condition in pediatric primary care, often linked to multifactorial causes including inflammation and immature immune systems.
- Understanding the role of dietary factors in modulating inflammation and immunity is crucial for managing OME in young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of the Traditional Mediterranean Diet (TMD) on inflammation and immune responses in children diagnosed with OME.
- To assess the efficacy of TMD as a potential preventive and therapeutic strategy for OME.
Main Methods:
- A single-group, pre-test/post-test study design was employed.
- Participants included 80 children (40 girls, 40 boys) aged 18 months to 5 years diagnosed with OME.
- Dietary quality, anthropometric parameters, clinical variables, and tympanometry were assessed.
Main Results:
- Tympanometry normalized in 85% of patients after one year of adhering to the TMD.
- Significant reductions were observed in recurrent colds (from 5.96 to 2.55 episodes), bacterial complications (from 3.09 to 0.61), and persistent nasal obstruction (from 1.92 to 0.26).
- The remaining 15% of patients showed normal audiometry and/or decreased associated symptoms, with high family satisfaction.
Conclusions:
- The Traditional Mediterranean Diet demonstrates promising effects in the prevention and treatment of otitis media with effusion.
- TMD may serve as a valuable non-pharmacological intervention for pediatric OME by modulating inflammatory and immune pathways.
Introduction:
Otitis media with effusion (OME) is common in pediatric primary care consultations. Its etiology is multifactorial, although it has been proven that inflammation factors mediate and that immunity is in a phase of relative immaturity. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of the Traditional Mediterranean Diet (TMD) modulating inflammation and immunity in patients diagnosed with OME.
Materials And Methods:
A analysis as a single-group pre-test/post-test was conducted on 40 girls and 40 boys between 18 months and 5 years old. Tympanometry normalization was the main test to control the benefit of diet. Clinical and therapeutic variables were studied through evaluation questionnaires, a quality test of the diet, as well as various anthropometric parameters.
Results:
At the end of one year, tympanometry had normalized in 85% of patients. The remaining 15% had normal audiometry and/or associated symptoms had decreased. Likewise, episodes of recurrent colds decreased from 5.96 ± 1.41 to 2.55 ± 0.37; bacterial complications of 3.09 ± 0.75 to 0.61 ± 0.06 and persistent nasal obstruction of 1.92 ± 0.27 to 0.26 ± 0.05. The degree of satisfaction of the families with the program was very high.
Conclusions:
The application of the Traditional Mediterranean Diet could have promising effects in the prevention and treatment of otitis media with effusion.
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