Research Sheds Light On Benefits Of Carotenoids For Hearing

NEWS

The benefits of carotenoids for vision are widely accepted and understood, but researchers are proposing that the same mechanism also leads to benefits for hearing.

COMMENT

Micronutrient approaches have proven scientific benefits for preventing and controlling hearing problems. Particularly impressively, research shows they may even be of significant help in the control of tinnitus-induced hearing loss. A very common hearing problem reported in all age groups, around 30 percent of people will experience tinnitus at some point in their lives. Symptoms of tinnitus include ringing, whooshing, humming, or buzzing sounds in the ear. It is believed that approximately 10 percent of people live with persistent tinnitus. In some patients this can result in anxiety, depression, and even insomnia.

Research conducted by scientists at the Dr. Rath Research Institute has shown that symptoms of tinnitus can be dramatically improved through use of the correct micronutrients. In a pilot clinical trial published in 2001, a specific combination of micronutrients was given to a group of patients suffering from tinnitus. Aged between 44 and 85 years old, they had all had the condition for more than three consecutive months.

After just four months on the micronutrient supplement program 30 percent of the patients reported a slight improvement in their hearing, while 45 percent reported a clear improvement of between 10 and 20 decibels. Even more remarkably, 25 percent of the patients indicated a strong hearing improvement of between 25 and 50 decibels and a return of their normal hearing ability. In all, more than 75 percent of the patients experienced some reduction in their symptoms of tinnitus. For half of the patients, the ringing and other noises in their ears almost completely disappeared.

To learn more about the impressive ability of micronutrients to help in cases of tinnitus-induced hearing loss, read this article on our website.