Natural treatments for the prevention of hearing loss

• DEFINITION: Prevention of hearing loss and treatment of the inability to hear.
• PRINCIPAL PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENTS:
• OTHER PROPOSED NATURAL TREATMENT: Lipoic acid

Introduction

Hearing loss may be caused by many factors, ranging from wax in the ear canal to problems with the nerves that receive sound and transmit it to the brain. Two of the most common causes are age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) and noise-induced hearing loss. The treatment for hearing loss depends on its cause, and for this reason, one should consult a doctor. This article discusses a few herbs and supplements that have shown promise for various forms of hearing loss.

Principal Proposed Natural Treatments

Two natural treatments were evaluated in double-blind, placebo-controlled trials for the prevention or treatment of hearing loss—magnesium and Ginkgo biloba.

Magnesium for preventing noise-induced hearing loss. Long-term exposure to loud sounds, such as gunfire or loud music, can cause permanent hearing loss. A two-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of three hundred military recruits found daily supplementation with magnesium helped protect the ear from noise-induced damage. The dosage used in this study was small—only 167 milligrams (mg) of magnesium daily—but tests showed that even this amount was sufficient to raise magnesium levels inside cells and protect the ear from damage. Soldiers who received the magnesium were less likely to experience permanent hearing damage than those in the placebo group, and when they did experience hearing damage, it was less severe.

Only using noise-reduction devices, such as headsets that block sound, has been proven effective for preventing noise-induced hearing loss, and the forgoing study does not indicate magnesium supplements can replace this effective approach. However, the study suggests that a safe, low dose of magnesium may add a level of protection.

Animal studies suggest that magnesium deficiency can increase the stress on cells involved in hearing, making them more susceptible to damage caused by noise, age, and nerve deterioration. However, human magnesium deficiency is relatively rare, so it is possible that supplemental magnesium acts in an entirely different way. In individuals with a magnesium deficiency, which can result from taking certain medications or specific health conditions, a supplement may be advisable to help prevent hearing loss. Hearing loss associated with drug ototoxicity may also improve with magnesium supplementation, but fewer studies have investigated this use.

In a cross-sectional study involving over 1,800 participants over age seventy, magnesium and calcium supplementation was found to improve and prevent hearing loss resulting from age, loud noises, and various health conditions. This finding indicates a possible benefit and the need for further research concerning calcium and magnesium’s impact on hearing.

Ginkgo for treating sudden hearing loss. Some people develop hearing loss suddenly, usually in one ear. This condition is called unilateral idiopathic sudden hearing loss. Its cause is unknown, but problems with circulation may play a role in some cases. The herb Ginkgo biloba is thought to increase circulation, improve neurotransmitter function, and reduce inflammation in the ears, and for this reason, it has been tried as a treatment for this condition.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 106 participants with a carefully defined form of sudden hearing loss were given either a full dose of ginkgo extract (120 milligrams [mg] twice daily) or a low dose of the herb (twelve mg twice daily). The lower dose was chosen in the belief that it could not possibly offer any benefit and would, therefore, serve as a placebo. However, researchers were surprised to find that most participants in each group recovered by the end of the eight-week trial. There are two possibilities to explain this: low-dose ginkgo is effective, or many people with sudden hearing loss recover on their own.

Because both groups improved to such a great extent, the overall results of the trial did not prove ginkgo effective. An examination of exploratory data provided hints that high-dose ginkgo may have helped ensure full recovery, but for statistical reasons, these hints are not proof. In a 2023 meta-analysis, twenty-seven articles were reviewed to understand the benefit of Ginkgo biloba extract with conventional medical treatment for hearing loss. Compared to patients who exclusively used ginkgo, patients who used the supplement as an adjunct therapy to their medical treatment found better results.

Another double-blind study compared ginkgo to pentoxifylline, a circulation-enhancing drug used in Germany to treat sudden hearing loss. The results indicate that ginkgo was at least as effective as the medication. However, because pentoxifylline is not a proven treatment for this condition, the results prove little. Additional research will be necessary to discover whether ginkgo is effective for sudden hearing loss.

A review of studies in 2019 revealed the most commonly found herbs and supplements that benefited hearing loss in clinical studies include Ginkgo biloba, Panax ginseng, and Astragalus propinquus. Though these were noted for their strong results in the literature, the review noted that nearly all the studies evaluated in the review were flawed and unlikely to render reliable results.

Ginkgo biloba and magnesium have also shown some evidence for use in treating tinnitus symptoms. Typical doses for ginkgo are between 60 to 240 milligrams and for magnesium, between 150 and 400 mg.

Other Proposed Natural Treatments

Animal studies suggest that lipoic acid supplements might help prevent age-related hearing loss. Another animal study suggests melatonin may help prevent hearing loss induced by noise.

Echinacea, ginger, and turmeric may benefit individuals with sinus inflammation contributing to hearing loss. For sudden sensorineural hearing loss, the supplement called Doluperine (turmeric, ginger, and pepper extract, providing 300 mg of curcumin, 7.5 mg of gingerol, and 3.25 mg of piperine) has shown some promise in patients with diabetes.

Free radicals are naturally occurring substances that cause damage to many parts of the body, including the ear. Antioxidants are substances that fight free radicals. Antioxidant supplements have shown promise for preventing various forms of hearing loss, including age-related hearing loss and hearing damage caused by medications. Commonly used antioxidants include citrus bioflavonoids, coenzyme Q₁₀, lipoic acid, lutein, lycopene, oligomeric proanthocyanidins, vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin E.

Other natural treatments sometimes used for various forms of hearing loss, which lack meaningful scientific support, include folate, manganese, myrrh, potassium, zinc, and vitamins B₁, B₂, B₆, and B₁₂.

Bibliography

Burschka, M. A., et al. “Effect of Treatment with Ginkgo Biloba Extract EGb 761 (Oral) on Unilateral Idiopathic Sudden Hearing Loss in a Prospective Randomized Double-Blind Study of 106 Outpatients.” European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, vol. 258, 2001, pp. 213-19.

Castañeda, Rodrigo, et al. “Traditional Oriental Medicine for Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Can Ethnopharmacology Contribute to Potential Drug Discovery?” Journal of Ethnopharmacology, vol. 231, 2019, pp. 409-28, doi:10.1016/j.jep.2018.11.016.

"Hearing Loss." Cleveland Clinic, 24 Aug. 2023, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17673-hearing-loss. Accessed 29 Sept. 2024.

Reisser, C. H., and H. Weidauer. “Ginkgo Biloba Extract EGb 761W or Pentoxifylline for the Treatment of Sudden Deafness.” Acta Otolaryngologica, vol. 121, 2001, pp. 579-84.

Seidman, M. D. “Effects of Dietary Restriction and Antioxidants on Presbyacusis.” Laryngoscope, vol. 110, 2000, pp. 727-38.

Xinmin, Wei. “Dietary Magnesium and Calcium Intake Is Associated with Lower Risk of Hearing Loss in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study of NHANES.” Frontiers in Nutrition, vol. 10, 2023, doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2023.1101764.

Yuan, Chao, et al. “Efficacy and Safety of Ginkgo Biloba Extract as an Adjuvant in the Treatment of Chinese Patients with Sudden Hearing Loss: A Meta-Analysis.” Pharmaceutical Biology, vol. 61, no. 1, 2023, pp. 610-20, doi:10.1080/13880209.2023.2190782.