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Dietary Supplements for Protection of the Inner Ear

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a significant clinical, social, and economic issue. Although it was once thought that virtually all NIHL arose from mechanical damage to sensitive sensory cells in the inner ear, we now know that intense metabolic activity drives the formation of free radicals (short-lived, unstable, highly reactive clusters of atoms) in the inner ear. Studies in animals have clearly shown that free radicals formed during and after noise importantly contribute to NIHL, and many laboratories have demonstrated that free radical scavengers (“antioxidants”) reduce NIHL in animal subjects. Investigators at multiple institutions have shown the combination of ß-carotene, vitamins C and E, and magnesium reduces NIHL in animals, and supporting data have been obtained in small Phase I/II clinical trial. Additional investigation is critical to now confirm potential utility of these agents in human subjects.

Author: Le Prell, Colleen
Affiliation: University of Florida
AES Conference:47th International Conference: Music Induced Hearing Disorders (June 2012)
Paper Number:5 Import into BibTeX
Subject:Medical Therapies and Procedures for Hearing Exposure Protection and Hearing Loss Regeneration

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