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.
