Dietary antioxidant intake is associated with the prevalence but not incidence of age-related hearing loss

Abstract

Dietary vitamin A and vitamin E intake were significantly associated with the prevalence of hearing loss. However, dietary antioxidant intake did not increase the risk of incident hearing loss. Further large, prospective studies are warranted to assess these relationships in older adults.

Dietary habits and hearing

“…The hypothesis that a diet rich in antioxidants Gopinath et al, 2011), or other micronutrients like folic acid (Shargorodsky et al, 2010), is benefi cial for hearing was not confi rmed in this study. No correlation between consumption of fruits and vegetables, with a high content of antioxidants, and hearing was observed.…”

Associations between dietary quality, noise, and hearing: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2002

“…These supplemented doses sharply contrast with dietary intake, and several prospective studies assessing the association of vitamin intake with hearing in the general population have not suggested benefit (Shargorodsky et al, 2010; Polanski & Cruz, 2013). However, multiple epidemiological studies suggest healthy eating habits which provide recommended nutrient intake amounts may confer some long-term benefit, with the specific nutrients and dietary components assessed varying across analyses (Gopinath et al, 2010b; Gopinath et al, 2011; Spankovich et al, 2011; Choi et al, 2013; Heine et al, 2013; Péneau et al, 2013; Spankovich & Le Prell, 2013). …”

“…Some of the nutrients suggested to play a role in human hearing are vitamins, including vitamins A, B (specifically B 2 , B 9 , and B 12 ), C, and E (Weijl et al, 2004; Durga et al, 2007; Michikawa et al, 2009; Gopinath et al, 2011; Spankovich et al, 2011; Choi et al, 2013). However, there are also studies that report no statistically significant relationships between these specific vitamins and hearing (Berner et al, 2000; Michikawa et al, 2009; Shargorodsky et al, 2010; Gopinath et al, 2011; Péneau et al, 2013).…”

“…Some of the nutrients suggested to play a role in human hearing are vitamins, including vitamins A, B (specifically B 2 , B 9 , and B 12 ), C, and E (Weijl et al, 2004; Durga et al, 2007; Michikawa et al, 2009; Gopinath et al, 2011; Spankovich et al, 2011; Choi et al, 2013). However, there are also studies that report no statistically significant relationships between these specific vitamins and hearing (Berner et al, 2000; Michikawa et al, 2009; Shargorodsky et al, 2010; Gopinath et al, 2011; Péneau et al, 2013). Some of the minerals suggested to play a role in hearing include magnesium (Mg) (Joachims et al, 1993; Attias et al, 1994; 2004; Spankovich et al, 2011; Choi et al, 2013) and selenium (Se) (Weijl et al, 2004; Chuang et al, 2007), although there are also studies reporting no statistically significant relationship between Mg and hearing (Walden et al, 2000).…”

Healthy diets, healthy hearing: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2002

“…Vitamin A. In cross-sectional analyses increased serum levels of retinol and pro-vitamin A carotenoids (Michikawa et al, 2009) and increased dietary intake of vitamin A (Gopinath et al, 2011) were associated with decreased prevalence of hearing impairment in older individuals, although one data set revealed small but statistically significant decreases in high-frequency sensitivity in those with the highest vitamin A intake (Spankovich et al, 2011). Beta-carotene is metabolized to vitamin A.…”