09 December 2013
A new US study reports that adequate intakes of antioxidant micronutrients such as beta-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E may contribute to better hearing.
The observational study analyzed a potential link between daily intakes of antioxidant micronutrients and hearing ability (pure tone, speech and at high frequencies) of 2,592 participants aged 20–69 years (1). The study results showed that higher intakes of beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E and magnesium were asso- ciated with significantly better hearing at both speech and high frequencies, compared with low intakes. The estimated joint effects were somewhat larger than the sums of the individual effects.
The researchers concluded that increased dietary intakes of antioxidants and magnesium seem to be asso- ciated with a lower risk of hearing loss. The discovery that the formation of free radicals in the inner ear is a key factor in hearing loss suggests that antioxidants may play a preventive or therapeutic role (2). Despite biological plausibility, only a few epidemiologic studies have examined the relations between antioxidant nutrients and hearing loss, and the results are not consistent (3). Possible reasons for null findings are that dietary assessment was misclassified or did not account for long-term intake or secondly, that imprecise outcome assessments, based on self-reports were used. Furthermore, antioxidants may be most effective when working together with other nutrients.
Hearing loss is a major public health concern affecting more than 36 million people (17% of the adult popu- lation) in the United States (4). 65% of Americans over 70 years of age have hearing loss and during the past 30 years a doubling of the number of Americans with hearing loss has been noted. According to the NHANES data, 90% and 37% of Americans have usual intakes of vitamins C and E below the Estimated Average Intake (5).
29 April 2013
Women who have sufficient blood vitamin D concentrations are 32% less likely to develop fibroids (non-cancerous tumors of the uterus) than women with insufficient levels, suggests a new US study.
20 July 2011
According to a new study in US-Chinese cooperation, carriers of the MTHFR677TT polymorphisms were associated with lower levels of folate in their plasma and red blood cells (RBC) and with higher plasma homocysteine levels than individuals with CT or CC genotype – irrespective of the folic acid supplementation dose.
7 December 2011
Women who have a diet rich in vegetables and fruits may have fewer strokes regardless of a previous history of cardiovascular disease, a new Swedish study suggests.
