| abstract |
A method is provided for reducing the incidence of otitis media in infants and young children by enterally administering indigestible oligosaccharides. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for reducing the incidence of otitis media comprising administering to humans an indigestible oligosaccharide selected from the group consisting of fructooligosaccharides, fructosans, xylooligosaccharides and galactooligosaccharides. The indigestible oligosaccharides can be produced through enzymatic synthesis, chemical techniques or isolated from plant materials and are administered in the form of a nutritional product, candy, tablets, chewing gums, lozenges, milk products, yogurts and the like. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the indigestible oligosaccharides have a DP of 2 to 20 and still more preferably are the fructooligosaccharides GF2, GF3 and GF4. |