Age-related hearing loss, vitamin B-12, and folate in elderly women

Abstract

Background: Hearing impairment is 1 of the 4 most prevalent chronic conditions in the elderly. However, the biological basis of age-related hearing loss is unknown. Objective: The objective was to test the hypothesis that agerelated hearing loss may be associated with poor vitamin B-12 and folate status. Design: A thorough audiometric assessment was conducted in 55 healthy women aged 60-71 y. Hearing function was determined by the average of pure-tone air conduction thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz and was categorized into 2 groups for logistic regression analyses: normal hearing (< 20 dB hearing level; n = 44) and impaired hearing (≥ 20 dB hearing level; n = 11). Results: Mean age was the same (65 y) for the normal hearing and impaired hearing groups. Pure-tone averages were inversely correlated with serum vitamin B-12 (r = Ϫ0.58, P = 0.0001) and red cell folate (r = Ϫ0.37, P = 0.01). Women with impaired hearing had 38% lower serum vitamin B-12 (236 compared with 380 pmol/L, respectively, P = 0.008) and 31% lower red cell folate (425 compared with 619 nmol/L, respectively, P = 0.02) than women with normal hearing. Among participants who did not take supplements containing vitamin B-12 or folate, women with impaired hearing had 48% lower serum vitamin B-12 (156 compared with 302 pmol/L, respectively, P = 0.0007) and 43% lower red cell folate (288 compared with 502 nmol/L, respectively, P = 0.001) than women with normal hearing. Conclusion: Poor vitamin B-12 and folate status may be associated with age-related auditory dysfunction.Am J Clin Nutr 1999;69:564-71.

Modulation of Presbycusis: Current Status and Future Directions

“…Findings like this suggest that cognitive contributions to hearing might be strengthened by vitamin use. Houston et al [1999] found that hearing thresholds were inversely correlated with serum vitamin B 12 and red cell folate in older women, suggesting that poor vitamin B 12 and folate status may be associated with age-related auditory dysfunction. However, in an analysis of blood samples taken from 91 subjects with presbycusis, Berner et al [2000] found no correlations between B 12 or folic acid levels and hearing sensitivity for pure tones or speech.…”

Ageing and hearing loss

“…Ultimately, after a lifetime of noise exposure, it is difficult to distinguish between NIHL and ARHL, audiometrically as well as anatomically. Additional environmental factors, such as ototoxic substances, drugs or even diet, can influence susceptibility to ARHL [29][30][31]. Aminoglycoside antibiotics can damage hair cells in the same pattern as noise, causing a non-reversible HL predominantly affecting high frequencies.…”

Comparative study of oxidative stress in individuals with and without age related hearing loss

“…Along with heart problems, hypertension and arthritis the hearing impairment is one of the four leading chronic health conditions experienced by the elderly people. 1,2 It is characterised by an age dependent decline of auditory function associated with loss of sensory hair cells, spiral ganglion neurons and stria vascularis cells in the cochlea of inner ear. 3 It is also associated with difficulty in speech discrimination and central auditory processing of information.…”