Wednesday July 2, 2014 (foodconsumer.org) -- Zinc supplements are known to prevent pneumonia.  Researchers hypothesized that zinc supplements may also prevent otitis media which is mainly caused by infection.

The review study shows that some trials published prior to March 2014 indicated that taking zinc supplements reduced the risk of otitis media by up to 30% in healthy young children, but not all trials were consistent.

One small trial of 39 infants receiving treatment for severe malnutrition showed that zinc reduced incidence of otitis media.

Zinc supplements do not seem to have any severe side effects or adverse effects except that a few children vomited shortly after administration of zinc supplements.

The review concluded that zinc supplements may reduce incidence of otitis media in healthy young children in low income families in developing countries.  The preventative effect was particularly evident in children who suffered malnutrition.

Zinc is known to help immunity.  It should be noted that the zinc used in your supplements may be zinc oxide which as nanoparticles can be toxic as previous studies have suggested.

Gulani A, Sachdev HS.  Zinc supplements for preventing otitis media.  Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014 Jun 29;6:CD006639.