Xylitol and ear infections

Pediatrics for Parents, Jan, 2002

Healthy children can reduce the chance of developing ear infections by chewing xylitol-containing chewing gum. According to a recent study, it doesn't have the same protective effect on child with acute respiratory infections.

The study followed 1,253 children. Nearly 80% of the children developed an acute upper respiratory infection (i.e., a "cold") during the study period. Half the children were given xylitol gum or mint on the first day of their infection, the other half a placebo. Of the children given the mint because they were too young to handle chewing gum, 16.4% of those given the xylitol and 15.2% given the placebo developed ear infections. For the children old enough to safely chew gum, the percentages were 11.2 and 12.1 respectively. The differences were not statistically significant.

Xylitol gum, 2 sticks chewed five times a day, is an effective way to lessen the incidence of ear infections in healthy children. Once the children have a respiratory infection, xylitol has no preventative actions against developing ear infections.

Family Practice News, 4/1/02.