vitamin-b-12 and Hearing-Loss

Hearing loss has been associated with poor vitamin B12 status in some, but not all studies. This study examined a possible relationship between age-related hearing loss and poor B12 status in 93 older adults using different indices of B12 status. Hearing loss was defined as pure-tone average threshold > 25 decibel hearing level. Participants with methylmalonic acid (MMA) > 271 nmol/L at baseline received 1,000 g/d, and those with MMA < or = 271 nmol/L were randomly assigned to receive 0, 25, or 100 microg/d of B12. In a series of logistic regression analyses, compared with participants with normal hearing, those with impaired hearing had a significantly higher serum mean MMA concentrations in the best and the worst ears and a higher prevalence of elevated MMA (> 271 nmol/L) in the worst ear only. Thus, elevated MMA concentration may be associated with hearing loss in older adults. However, short-term B12 supplementation was unrelated to improvements in hearing status in B12-deficient individuals.

Topics: Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Cohort Studies; Creatinine; Dietary Supplements; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Female; Geriatric Assessment; Hearing Loss; Homocysteine; Humans; Male; Methylmalonic Acid; Middle Aged; Nutritional Status; Socioeconomic Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Vitamin B 12; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency; Vitamin B Complex

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of vitamin B12 deficiency on hearing in school-aged children by pure-tone audiometry.. Forty-three vitamin B12-deficient children and 37 age-matched control subjects were enrolled in the study. Tympanometric evaluations and pure-tone audiometry including high frequencies were performed on the subjects. The results were compared between the two groups.. Both right and left ear pure-tone hearing thresholds (PTHTs) at 0.25-4 kHz, and four-frequency pure-tone average values were significantly better in the control group compared with the patient group (P < 0.05). However, PTHTs at 8-16 kHz were not different between the two groups (P > 0.05). Vitamin B12 level also did not show any significant correlation with the PTHTs at 0.25-16 kHz (P > 0.05).. This study indicates that vitamin B12 deficiency may contribute to hearing impairment at low frequencies as a possible aetiological factor in children.

Topics: Audiometry, Pure-Tone; Auditory Threshold; Child; Hearing; Hearing Loss; Humans; Vitamin B 12

To determine the 10-year incidence of hearing impairment (HI) and associated risk factors in the Beaver Dam Offspring Study (BOSS; 2004-present), a large middle-aged cohort followed for 10 years.. Prospective cohort study.. Hearing thresholds were measured at baseline (2005-2008) and 5- (2010-2013) and 10-year (2015-2017) follow-up examinations. HI was defined as a pure-tone average >25 dB HL in either ear. BOSS participants free of HI at baseline with at least one follow-up examination (N = 2,065) were included. Potential risk factors evaluated included cardiovascular measures, health history, lifestyle factors, inflammatory markers, vitamins D and B12, lead, and cadmium.. Participants were 21 to 79 years (mean age = 47.9 years) at baseline. The 10-year cumulative HI incidence was 17.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 15.7-19.2) and was twice as likely in men (24.4%, 95% CI: 21.5-27.7) than in women (12.2%, 95% CI: 10.3-14.3). In a multivariable adjusted model, age (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.38-1.59, per 5 years), male sex (HR = 2.47, 95% CI: 1.91-3.18), less than a college education (HR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.02-1.79), body mass index (HR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05, per kg/m. In addition to age and sex, obesity, education, and blood cadmium levels were associated with increased incidence of HI. These prospective results add to evidence that age-related HI is a multifactorial preventable disorder.. 2b Laryngoscope, 130:1396-1401, 2020.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Audiometry, Pure-Tone; Cadmium; Female; Hearing Loss; Humans; Incidence; Lead; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Proportional Hazards Models; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Vitamin B 12; Vitamin D; Young Adult

Studies based on food frequency questionnaires suggest that folate and vitamin B12 intake could protect against hearing loss. We investigated whether erythrocyte folate and serum vitamin B12 levels are independently associated with hearing loss in humans.. Participants in the 2003-2004 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who had data on hearing, folate, and vitamin B12 levels were included. Pure-tone average (PTA) at 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 kHz was computed for each ear. We used weighted logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the relation between quartiles of folate and vitamin B12, and hearing loss (present if PTA > 25 dB in either ear and absent if PTA ≤ 25 dB in both ears).. Participants (n = 1149) were 20-69 (mean 42) years old and 16.4% had hearing loss in at least one ear. Our data suggest a U-shaped relationship between folate and hearing loss. Compared to the 1st quartile, the ORs (95% CIs) for hearing loss were 0.87 (0.49-1.53), 0.70 (0.49-1.00), and 1.08 (0.61-1.94) for the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quartile of erythrocyte folate in analyses adjusted for age, sex, vitamin B12, smoking, alcohol use, body mass index, race/ethnicity, exposure to noise, income, and education. Although we observed inverse associations between vitamin B12 and hearing loss, the associations were not statistically significant (P > 0.05).. Our data show a U-shaped relationship between erythrocyte folate levels and hearing loss, suggesting a need to evaluate whether optimizing blood folate levels could prevent hearing loss.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Body Mass Index; Erythrocytes; Female; Folic Acid; Hearing Loss; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nutrition Surveys; Nutritional Status; Socioeconomic Factors; Vitamin B 12; Young Adult

Elevated total serum homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations associated with vitamin B-12 or folate deficiencies may adversely affect blood flow to the cochlea, leading to age-related hearing loss (presbycusis). However, only 2 small cross-sectional studies have assessed the link between folate, vitamin B-12, or tHcy and presbycusis. We aimed to determine both the cross-sectional and longitudinal association between serum concentrations of folate, vitamin B-12, or tHcy and risk of age-related hearing loss. The Blue Mountains Hearing Study is a population-based survey of age-related hearing loss (1997-1999 to 2002-2004). Presbycusis was measured in 2956 participants (aged >or=50 y) and was defined as the pure-tone average of frequencies 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 kHz >25 dB hearing level (HL). Serum concentrations of folate, vitamin B-12, and tHcy were determined from blood samples. Participants with elevated tHcy (>20 micromol/L) concentrations had a 64% increased likelihood of prevalent hearing loss (>25 dB HL) [multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.64; 95% CI, 1.06-2.53]. Low serum folate levels (<11 nmol/L) increased the odds of prevalent mild hearing loss (>25-40 dB HL), multivariate-adjusted [OR 1.37 (CI 1.04-1.81)]. Serum vitamin B-12, however, was not significantly associated with prevalent hearing loss. Serum folate, vitamin B-12, and tHcy concentrations were also not significantly associated with an increased risk of incident hearing loss. Serum concentrations of tHcy and folate were associated with age-related hearing loss cross-sectionally, but no temporal links were observed, which could be due to insufficient study power. Further, large prospective studies will be required in the future to assess these associations.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Aging; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Folic Acid; Health Surveys; Hearing Loss; Homocysteine; Humans; Male; Multivariate Analysis; Odds Ratio; Vitamin B 12

Determine the correlation between the hearing threshold and the serum levels of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and folic acid among elderly subjects (> 60 years) with age-related hearing loss (ARHL).. Cross-sectional.. Community.. Subjects included elderly who were found apparently healthy following repeated examination by physicians. The pure tone average (PTA) for the speech and high frequencies, and the serum folate and cobalamin were determined and the correlation found.. The mean ± SD values of serum folate among the subjects with normal PTA in the speech frequencies (0-30 dB) was 412.3 nmol/L ± 17.6 nmol/L, while among those with hearing loss (HL), it was 279.1 nmol/L ± 17.2 nmol/L (P = 0.01). In the high frequencies, the mean ± SD values among the subjects with normal PTA was 426.3 nmol/L ± 17.6 nmol/L, while among those with HL, it was 279.14 nmol/L ± 171.2 nmol/L. The serum cobalamin among the subjects with normal PTA within the speech frequencies was 49.7 pmol/L ± 9.4 pmol/L, while among those with speech-frequency HL, it was 42.6 pmol/L ± 10.2 pmol/L. However, for high frequencies, the mean ± SD values among the subjects with normal PTA was 47.4 pmol/L ± 7.3 pmol/L, while among those with HL, it was 41.3 pmol/L ± 9.2 pmol/L. Spearman's correlation revealed that low folate (correlation coefficient = -0.27, P = 0.01) and cyanocobalamin (correlation coefficient = -0.35, P = 0.02) were significantly associated with increasing hearing threshold in the high frequencies. After adjusting for age, serum folate (correlation coefficient = -0.01, P = 0.01) was significant, while vitamin B12 (correlation coefficient = -0.01, P = 0.74) was not.. Serum folate was significantly lower among elderly with ARHL. Trials on nutritional supplementation may substantiate the role of serum folate in ARHL.

Topics: Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Audiometry, Pure-Tone; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Folic Acid; Folic Acid Deficiency; Hearing Loss; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Vitamin B 12; Vitamin B 12 Deficiency

Recently several investigations have been reported suggesting that the cause of endolymphatic hydrops might be an immunologic disorder of the endolymphatic space, including the endolymphatic sac. As the first choice in a conservative treatment by medication, the authors have used a combination of prednisolone and furosemide per os, which is rather safe and effective for hydrops patients in a subacute stage. However, some patients do not respond to this treatment or gradually become immune to this medication. With these patients, we have tried an intravenous administration of immunoglobulin G with methyl B12, expecting a curative effect on immunologic deficiency in the endolymphatic space. Compared with a group of patients without this treatment, the group receiving it showed rather good scores in hearing improvement; however, vertigo and tinnitus remained almost unchanged.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Combined Modality Therapy; Drug Resistance; Edema; Endolymphatic Sac; Female; Furosemide; Hearing Loss; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Injections, Intravenous; Labyrinth Diseases; Male; Meniere Disease; Middle Aged; Prednisolone; Vitamin B 12

Topics: Biomedical Research; Deafness; Drug Therapy; Hearing Disorders; Hearing Loss; Humans; Paralysis; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve; Tinnitus; Vitamin B 12; Vocal Cord Paralysis