A Survey of Vitamin Intake amongst Hearing and Hearing-Impaired Female Students in Saudi Arabia: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Previous international research shows severe vitamin deficiencies in people with hearing loss. Hearing loss is improved for many people when vitamins such as A, B, C, D, E and K are replaced. Objective: To determine whether a dietary intake of vitamins linked to deafness were deficient among a group of 18-21 year-old hearing impaired and hearing Saudi Arabian female students. Design: This was a cross sectional study involving 64 hearing students and 42 hard of hearing female students aged 18-21 in a university in Saudi Arabia. Food intake was assessed by a food frequency questionnaire. Vitamin levels were calculated for each food and compared to the recommended daily allowance (RDA) for each group. Knowledge and understanding of vitamin deficiency was answered by face to face interviews. The study duration was one year from September 2010 to September 2011.