| March
30, 2007
Nutrient Combo May Curb Hearing Loss
Mix of Magnesium and Vitamins A, C, E May Help Prevent
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical News
Reviewed By Louise Chang, MD
March 30, 2007 -- Taken together, magnesium and vitamins A, C,
and E may help protect the ears from noise-induced hearing loss.
So say scientists including Colleen Le Prell, PhD, of the University
of Michigan's Kresge Hearing Research Institute.
So far, Le Prell's team has only tested the nutrient mixture
against noise-induced hearing loss in guinea pigs.
But the results of those guinea pig tests provide a "compelling
rationale for human trials," the researchers write.
Their report appears in Free Radical Biology & Medicine.
The researchers studied four groups of male guinea pigs. Each
group got one of the following treatments once daily for six days:
- Magnesium and vitamins A, C, and E
- Vitamins A, C, and E without magnesium
- Magnesium only
- Salt water (placebo)
One hour after the first treatment, the guinea pigs were exposed
to 120 decibels of noise for five consecutive hours.
To put that in perspective, 120 decibels is as loud as an ambulance
siren, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other
Communication Disorders (NIDCD).
Prolonged exposure to any noise above 85 decibels can cause gradual
hearing loss, notes the NIDCD. Wearing earplugs or other special
ear muffs may help protect hearing in noisy settings.
The guinea pigs were only exposed to the noise once. They got
daily doses of their assigned treatment for the five days following
noise exposure.
Five days after noise exposure, the guinea pigs took hearing
tests and had their ears examined.
The guinea pigs that got the combination treatment of magnesium
and vitamins A, C, and E had the least amount of noise-induced
hearing loss and ear damage.
The guinea pigs in the three other groups had no hearing benefits.
Magnesium and vitamins A, C, and E may work best together to prevent
noise-induced hearing loss, the researchers write.
The study doesn't show whether the treatment given before noise
exposure was more important than the treatments given after noise
exposure.
The researchers speculate that the nutrient combination might
reduce hearing loss even when it's only given after exposure to
noise, but this study didn't test that theory.
The University of Michigan has applied for patents for the nutrient
combination's use in preventing noise-induced hearing loss.
One of the researchers -- Josef Miller, PhD of the University
of Michigan and the Center for hearing and Communication at Sweden's
Karolinska Institute -- is the founder and chairman of a company
called OtoMedicine, Inc., which is developing the vitamin and
magnesium treatment.
Source: www.medicinenet.com
Comments:
Noise Induced hearing loss is the second most common cause
of hearing impairment after aging. With approximately 30
million Americans having some degree of hearing impairment,
10 million suffer due to preventable causes such as excessive
noise exposure. Yet there is no specific treatment available
other than hearing aides. This study proves that use of
nutrients is one more avenue that could maintain quality
of life of many of these people without any side effects.
Researchers at Dr. Rath's Research Institute have already
proved that combination of these antioxidants with other
nutrients significantly improve hearing loss in tinnitus.
The principle of nutrient synergy is an innovative approach
used by Dr. Rath stresses the importance of combinations
of nutrients rather than single nutrient. Through such an
approach, mega doses of individual nutrients can be avoided
with better results. This study further confirms those findings.
Please read about Dr. Rath's studies under “clinical
studies” on www.drrathresearch.org |
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