Summary
In 428 New Zealand infants given K12 or placebo daily from 6 to 24 months, ear infections did not differ (rate ratio 0.84, 95% confidence interval 0.57 to 1.24), nor did respiratory infections, antibiotic use or health service use. The authors conclude routine use for this purpose is not supported.
Key points
- Design: multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized controlled trial. It tests infants without prior ear infections, unlike earlier K12 studies in children with recurrent infections.
- Funding: University of Otago; authors declare no competing interests.
- Added from the October 2026 literature sweep, from the abstract; curators to check against the full text.