You can prevent noise-induced hearing loss by taking vitamins and minerals
Added 02.03.2009
According to many scientific studies, about 98 percent of the world population does not even reach the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of essential vitamins and minerals. It's no longer a matter of only preventing deficiency-related diseases; vitamins and minerals are vital for preventing chronic diseases as well as maintaining good overall health. New studies have now discovered that if you want to protect yourself against noise-induced hearing loss, all you need to do is make sure you take the right dosage of vitamins and minerals every day.
Hearing loss is an increasing global problem
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 580 million people worldwide have at least a mild hearing impairment associated with loud noise and this number is projected to increase to over 700 million by 2015. Approximately 35 million people in Europe are affected by hearing loss.We are all exposed to noise in our daily life but when that noise exceeds 85 decibels, it can be harmful to our hearing. Whether it's an impulse sound such as an explosion or continuous loud noise from, for example, loud music (especially with headphone use), woodworking, lawn mowers and shop tools, temporary or permanent hearing loss may ensue.
Vitamins and minerals prevent temporary and permanent hearing loss
Vitamin supplements that have sufficient amounts of the antioxidants beta-carotene, vitamins C and E, and mineral supplements that contain magnesium, were proven in laboratory tests to prevent temporary and permanent hearing loss from both long-term exposure to noise and single, very loud sounds.How does noise cause hearing loss?
When we are exposed to loud noise, free radicals are formed. These free radicals damage small sensory cells (hair cells) in our inner ear. Hair cells are responsible for converting sound energy into electrical signals that are then sent to our brain. The problem is that once hair cells are damaged, they can never be regenerated.How do vitamins and minerals prevent hearing loss?
Beta-carotene and vitamins C and E are antioxidants, which means part of their job consists of finding and neutralising free radicals. These nutrients were found in several scientific studies to protect against hair cell damage caused by free radicals. Magnesium is significant in preventing hearing loss by maintaining blood flow to the inner ear and helping in the healing process.References:
Ohlemiller, K.K. & all. "Permanent noise-induced threshol deficits in mice fed a combination of dietary agents." Association for Research in Otolaryngology, 32nd Midwinter Meeting Abstracts. February, 2009.
Yang, Q. & all. "Towards the development of a laboratory model of noise-induced hearing loss with real-world relevance for human subjects." Association for Research in Otolaryngology, 32nd Midwinter Meeting Abstracts. February, 2009.
Dr. Bo Nielsen's comments:
Hearing loss, even moderate, is very annoying to people who suffer from this common problem. It is very encouraging that these researchers have shown that by simply taking certain vitamins and minerals you can reduce your risk of developing a hearing problem. Just remember that the amount (dosage) of these vitamins and minerals is essential for effect, just like in any other matter. Be sure that your supplements contain enough of each ingredient, which unfortunately is not the case with many cheaper multi-vitamins.
