title: Vitamin D supplementation reduces the risk of acute otitis media in otitis-prone children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate whether a deficit in vitamin D (VD) is associated with an increased risk of recurrent acute otitis media (AOM) and whether VD supplementation is effective in reducing the number of AOM episodes in otitis-prone children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 116 children with a history of recurrent AOM (≥3 episodes in preceding 6 months or ≥4 episodes in preceding 12 months) were prospectively and blindly randomized to receive oral VD 1000 IU/d or placebo for 4 months. Episodes of AOM were monitored for 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-eight children received placebo and 58 with similar characteristics were treated with VD. The number of children experiencing ≥1 AOM episode during the study period was significantly lower in the treatment group (26 versus 38; P = 0.03). There was a marked difference in the number of children who developed uncomplicated AOM (P < 0.001), but no difference in the number of children with ≥1 episode of spontaneous otorrhea. The likelihood of AOM was significantly reduced in the patients whose serum VD concentrations were ≥30 ng/mL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VD hypovitaminosis is common in children with recurrent AOM and associated with an increase in the occurrence of AOM when serum 25(OH)D levels are <30 ng/mL. The administration of VD in a dosage of 1000 IU/d restores serum values of ≥30 ng/mL in most cases and is associated with a significant reduction in the risk of uncomplicated AOM.
authors.affiliation: From the *Pediatric Clinic 1, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, †Epidemiology Unit, Department of Preventive Medicine, and ‡Laboratory Medicine Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marchisio
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Consonni
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Baggi
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zampiero
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bianchini
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Terranova
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tirelli
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esposito
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Principi
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D010919:Placebos; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D014807:Vitamin D