Zinc is known for fighting colds, but it's ability to battle ear aches is less certain. Photo by Owlpacino
They’re the bane of many parents with young kids and so far middle-ear infections don’t have a proven effective fix outside of antibiotics. There has been speculation that the nutrient Zinc can help prevent and even ameliorate these infections, but recent research suggests it’s a remedy that doesn’t work any better than a placebo.
The study, available in the Cochrane Database, does indicate Zinc can help malnourished children battle ear infections, but for healthy children there’s no proof it makes a difference. Most infections clear up on their own, so for now parents will just have to wait out the pain, or look to antibiotics if the infection persists.
Read more at the New York Times health page.
