A 2001 study conducted by the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary points to a possible link between cod liver oil and the resistance to contracting ear infections. Children are at a higher risk of getting an ear infection than adults and researchers believe it is because the children are lacking certain chemicals that are present in cod liver oil. By adding those chemicals into their diets regularly, they may be able to avoid ear infections as well as adults do.
Ear Infection Symptoms and Causes
The most obvious symptoms of an inner ear infection are loss of hearing, a fever or earache, vertigo and feeling a sense of fullness in the ear. The infection is normally caused by a virus or a bacteria but can also be caused by enlarged adenoids, allergies or a blocked eustachian tube due to a cold.
Vitamin A and Omega-3 Fatty Acid Levels
The 2001 study in New York was published in the July 2002 issue of the "Annals of Otology, Rhinology and Laryngology" and detailed how seven children were given 1 tsp. of cod liver oil daily. The results showed that with the treatment the children were able to get rid of their middle ear infections 12 percent faster than average recovery without the treatment. Five of the seven children who had the oil treatment avoided contracting another ear infection for the rest of the winter season. The researchers concluded that children have naturally lower levels of vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids than adults do. Both of these substances are found in cod liver oil and both may help battle causes of ear infection, but researchers can't be sure without a larger, more controlled study.
Vitamin A and Infections
Increasing the amount of vitamin A improves your body's ability to keep any viruses and bacteria out that would normally enter through the airway or the digestive tract. The mucous membrane that protects the airway that is connected to the ear canals improves when large amounts of vitamin A are present.
Available Forms of Cod Liver Oil
Cod liver oil can be obtained by eating fresh cod, and it can also be ingested via supplements available at health food stores. The supplements come in both liquid and pill form and the liquid cod liver oil is often flavored. For other sources of the nutrients offered by cod liver oil, add other freshwater fish to your diet. Many of them are rich in omega-3 acids and vitamin A. Trout, salmon, and smelt are all excellent freshwater sources of vitamin A and omega-3 acids.
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