Skip to main content

Hearing Loss in Elderly May be Linked to Folate Deficiency


January 2011

Low levels of folic acid (folate) may be associated with age-related hearing loss, according to a new study published in the journal Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery.
The study of 126 healthy Nigerian men and women over the age of 60 found that low serum levels of folic acid, a B vitamin, were significantly associated with hearing loss in high frequencies.
"Based on our research, age-related hearing loss may be associated with poor micronutrient status. The role of folate in cellular metabolism, the nervous system and vascular function are important for the auditory system," study author Akeem Olawale Lasisi said.
The researchers concluded that "serum folate was significantly lower among elderly with age-related hearing loss." They called for further study into the role of vitamins in hearing, particularly in developing countries where malnutrition is common.
Folic acid is found in fruits, leafy green vegetables such as romaine lettuce, dried beans, peas, nuts and enriched cereals and breads. It is also available as a dietary supplement.
Hearing loss affects more than 28 million Americans aged 60 to 74.
Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery 143(6):826-830, 2010
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Adopting a Vegetarian Diet

Adopting a vegetarian diet has become a popular choice for individuals looking to improve their health, particularly as heart disease and obesity rates continue to rise in many parts of the world. Vegetarians tend to have lower cholesterol levels and consume fewer trans fats than those who consume meat and dairy products. However, to maintain good health, vegetarians must ensure they obtain the right amount of nutrients from their vegan diets. By taking care to plan their diets carefully, vegetarians can enjoy a satisfying and tasty way of life. While there is no established vegan diet, it is widely agreed that with so many vegetarian diets to choose from, the choice is ultimately up to the individual. However, vegetarians must be cautious not to make their diets too restrictive as this can lead to difficulties in meeting the body's daily nutritional requirements. Commonly deficient nutrients among vegetarians include protein, iron, vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, and zinc. Soy pr...
Post a Comment
Read more

How (and why) to check your medical records

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act is designed to protect patient health information and guard medical privacy. Only you, your insurance company and your doctors can access your records. You may want to have a copy of your records to check for mistakes or to recall your medication history. Talk to your doctor's office about how to access your records online. Different services require different procedures. Some doctors require you to fill out a form. Do it at the doctor's office in case you need help. Write down specific information you want, such as blood pressure, scans, blood and urine tests, cholesterol levels, and history of surgery or other procedures. Pay any fee. When you receive the records, check to see that all the information you requested is included. Check the records for mistakes. If you find anything you don't understand, call the health-care provider's office and ask for an explanation. If it is a mistake, ask the provider...
2 comments
Read more

Hеrе Arе 6 Ways Tо Gеt Exercise Whіlе At Work

Rеgаrdlеѕѕ оf hоw уоu choose tо dо it, studies show thеrе аrе numerous benefits tо moving аt work. Physical activity аt work саn hеlр employees іn thе fоllоwіng ways: 1. Find а path. Bеfоrе уоu set оff оn уоur fіrѕt walking meeting, build уоur route map аnd identify options оf varying lengths аnd direction. You’ll wаnt walking routes thаt аrе safe, nоt tоо noisy, аnd easily accessed frоm thе office wіthоut аn additional commute. 2. Walk bу yourself. There’s nо hard-and-fast rule thаt а walking meeting nееdѕ tо bе а group activity. Whеn уоu nееd tо mull ѕоmеthіng оvеr оr соmе uр wіth fresh ideas, gеt оut оf уоur head аnd head outside. If аvаіlаblе time оr company rules restrict walking outside, walking thе perimeter оf а factory оr office floor іѕ аn excellent stand-in. 3. Invite appointments tо walk іnѕtеаd оf hаvіng а seated meeting. In hіѕ famous laws оf motion, Newton fоund thаt аn object аt rest wіll remain аt rest unlеѕѕ аn external force acts uроn it. Bе thаt external for...
Post a Comment
Read more