Effects of the Traditional Mediterranean Diet in Patients with Otitis Media with Effusion

Abstract

Introduction: Otitis media with effusion (OME) is common in pediatric primary care consultations. Its etiology is multifactorial, although it has been proven that inflammation factors mediate and that immunity is in a phase of relative immaturity. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of the Traditional Mediterranean Diet (TMD) modulating inflammation and immunity in patients diagnosed with OME. Materials and Methods: A analysis as a single-group pre-test/post-test was conducted on 40 girls and 40 boys between 18 months and 5 years old. Tympanometry normalization was the main test to control the benefit of diet. Clinical and therapeutic variables were studied through evaluation questionnaires, a quality test of the diet, as well as various anthropometric parameters. Results: At the end of one year, tympanometry had normalized in 85% of patients. The remaining 15% had normal audiometry and/or associated symptoms had decreased. Likewise, episodes of recurrent colds decreased from 5.96 ± 1.41 to 2.55 ± 0.37; bacterial complications of 3.09 ± 0.75 to 0.61 ± 0.06 and persistent nasal obstruction of 1.92 ± 0.27 to 0.26 ± 0.05. The degree of satisfaction of the families with the program was very high. Conclusions: The application of the Traditional Mediterranean Diet could have promising effects in the prevention and treatment of otitis media with effusion.