Adenoids, also known as pharyngeal tonsils, play an important role in the immune system by protecting the upper respiratory tract from pathogens. However, when they become enlarged (a condition known as adenoid hypertrophy, AH), they can cause symptoms like nasal obstruction, mouth breathing, snoring, and sleep-disordered breathing¹².

Supplements and Adjunctive Therapies for Adenoids

Vitamin D

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to an increase in the size of adenoids and tonsils, which can exacerbate symptoms of sleep-disordered breathing in children. Studies have found that lower levels of vitamin D are associated with larger adenoids and tonsils³⁴. Supplementing with vitamin D might help mitigate these issues by supporting the immune system and potentially reducing the size of the adenoidal tissue⁵.

Herbal Therapies

A combination of Ribes nigrum, Boswellia serrata, Bromelain, and Vitamin D has been found effective in reducing nasal inflammation in chronic sinusitis and may help with adenoid hypertrophy by decreasing inflammation and infection in the upper respiratory tract. This combination was shown to improve auditory and respiratory functions without causing allergic reactions⁶.

Chinese herbal medicine has also been studied for its effectiveness and safety in treating pediatric adenoid hypertrophy, showing promise as an adjunctive therapy to conventional treatments⁷.

Other Adjunctive Treatments

• Montelukast: A cysteinyl-leukotriene receptor antagonist, has been found effective in reducing the size and symptoms of adenoid hypertrophy in children. This medication works by reducing inflammation ⁸.
• Nasal Irrigation: Using hypertonic solutions for nasal irrigation can help decrease the size of enlarged adenoid tissue¹.
• Bacteriotherapy and Halotherapy: These therapies have also shown effectiveness in reducing the size of adenoids and lowering the need for surgical intervention¹.

Conclusion

Various supplements and adjunctive therapies, including Vitamin D, specific herbal combinations, Montelukast, nasal irrigation, and other methods, offer promising non-surgical alternatives for managing adenoid hypertrophy and its symptoms.

Footnotes

1. Murat Çetkin, "Adjunctive Treatment of Pediatric Adenoidal Hypertrophy: A Review," PubMed. ↩ ↩² ↩³

2. Farshid Shokouhi, "Montelukast in Adenoid Hypertrophy: Its Effect on Size and Symptoms," NCBI. ↩

3. Ji-Hyeon Shin, "Is there an association between vitamin D deficiency and adenotonsillar hypertrophy in children with sleep-disordered breathing?" PubMed. ↩

4. Alimohamad Asghari, "Vitamin D Levels in Children with Adenotonsillar Hypertrophy and Otitis Media with Effusion," NCBI. ↩

5. Pietro De Luca, "Vitamin D Deficit as Inducer of Adenotonsillar Hypertrophy in Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea—A Prospective Case-Control Study," NCBI. ↩

6. Pietro De Luca, "A Supplement with Ribes Nigrum, Boswellia Serrata, Bromelain and Vitamin D to Stop Local Inflammation in Chronic Sinusitis: A Case-Control Study," NCBI. ↩

7. Ya-Lei Sun, "Effectiveness and safety of Chinese herbal medicine for pediatric adenoid hypertrophy: A meta-analysis," PubMed. ↩

8. Farshid Shokouhi, "Montelukast in Adenoid Hypertrophy: Its Effect on Size and Symptoms," NCBI. ↩