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Drinking More Milk Might Make Child’s Ear Problem Worse

Q. You wrote in your column that vitamin D might help prevent a child’s ear infections. Parents might give children vitamin D-fortified milk thinking this would help, but it might make things worse.

Our grandson had recurrent ear infections. His parents removed these four foods from his diet: peanuts, dairy, wheat and corn. That took care of the problem.

A. Some research suggests that allergies may contribute to middle ear infections (otitis media). Common allergens include cow’s milk and other dairy products and such foods could increase the risk of infections in susceptible children (Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America, Feb. 1992).

Although milk is usually fortified with vitamin D, it is certainly not the sole source. Other dietary sources are listed in our Guide to Vitamin D Deficiency, which also discusses appropriate doses.

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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