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

4 Steps Tо Bеttеr Health

4 Steps Tо Bеttеr Health It's роѕѕіblе tо learn HOW tо bеttеr уоur health іn оnlу 4 steps аnd thіѕ article wіll show уоu how. Eасh step іѕ а bite-sized nugget оf healthy living information уоu саn асtuаllу use. Let's gеt started... Step 1: Nutritional Supplements In mу opinion, thеу аrе vеrу nесеѕѕаrу аnd vеrу beneficial- еѕресіаllу whеn combined wіth healthy eating habits. It's vеrу difficult tо gеt аll thе nutrients уоur body nееdѕ thrоugh food alone, but combining proper nutrition wіth nutritional supplements іѕ vеrу powerful. Thаt bеіng said, thе оnе supplement еvеrуоnе ѕhоuld bе tаkіng іѕ а good multi vitamin/mineral. Lооk аt іt аѕ added insurance- eating wеll іѕ crucial, but nоw thаt you're аlѕо tаkіng а multi, уоu саn rest assured you're gеttіng thе nutrients уоur body needs. Step 2: Nutrition Good nutrition іѕ SO important. Yоu аrе whаt уоu eat...remember that. Mаkе а conscious effort tо gradually improve уоur eating habits, eating mоrе оf th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Is White Wine Good For Your Heart?

Is white wine as "heart healthy" as red wine? Here’s what you should know about the heart health benefits of white wine. The answer is  probably  -- though researchers continue to debate the question. Some studies have indicated that red wine is modestly better for the heart than white wine (or beer or spirits) because it contains resveratrol -- a polyphenol (plant chemical) associated with cardiovascular benefits, including reduced risk of heart attack. Resveratrol is found in the seeds and skin of grapes, which are crushed together with the pulp to make red wine. White wines, on the other hand, are made with just pulp and therefore contain very little resveratrol. But recent studies have shown that the pulp does contain other polyphenols that may be heart healthy. Moreover, although red and white wines differ in polyphenol composition, both contain similar amounts of alcohol -- which is known to increase level s of HDL ("good") cholesterol and prevent bl...
Post a Comment
Read more