Otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear, usually caused by infection) of people of all ages, but particularly in children. Approximately 164 million people worldwide suffer from hearing loss caused by this condition. Ninety percent were in poor countries. Because zinc supplementation can prevent pneumonia, researchers are also wondering whether zinc can also prevent otitis media.
Zinc is an important micronutrient that plays a role in optimizing the function of the immune system and body strength to resist infection. Some people, especially children in developing countries and poor countries, does not have an adequate intake of zinc from their diet. Researchers therefore conducted a study on the potential role of zinc supplementation in preventing infectious diseases, including middle ear infections.
