Associations between diet and both high and low pure tone averages and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions in an older adult population-based study.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional population-based observational study
PubMed 21419069 · doi:10.3766/jaaa.22.1.6
What was done
A cross-sectional population-based study analyzed 2,111 adults aged 49 to 99 years to assess associations between total nutrient intakes and auditory function. Dietary intake was assessed via food frequency questionnaires. Auditory outcomes, including pure tone audiometry and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE), were measured by an audiologist in a sound-treated room.
What was found
Higher intakes of carbohydrate, vitamin C, vitamin E, riboflavin, magnesium, and lycopene were significantly associated with larger TEOAE amplitude and better pure tone thresholds. Conversely, higher intakes of fat, cholesterol, and retinol were significantly associated with lower TEOAE amplitude and worse pure tone thresholds. The abstract reports no numerical effect sizes, confidence intervals, or p-values.
Why it matters
This study links nutrient intake relevant to redox balance and vascular health with objective auditory measures in older humans, highlighting potential dietary targets for further investigation into sensorineural hearing loss.
Limits
The cross-sectional design precludes establishing causality. Dietary data from food frequency questionnaires are susceptible to recall and reporting bias. The abstract does not report effect sizes, statistical values, or control for potential confounders such as noise exposure, ototoxic medications, or systemic health conditions.
Cited by
- supports Large-scale human population studies associate higher serum magnesium levels or higher dietary magnesium intake with better hearing thresholds.