In the cochlea (cochlea of the auditory canal), increased deletions take place in the mitochondrial DNA with age and age-related hearing loss due to the influence of free radicals, which disrupts the respiratory chain and impairs cellular energy supply. This can result in hearing loss.
Within the framework of micronutrient medicine (vital substances), the following vital substances (micronutrients) are used for supportive therapy:
In humans, the symptoms of the so-called Meniere’s disease illness with attacks of rotary vertigo, ringing in the ears and sensorineural hearing loss as well as the symptoms of sudden hearing loss could be improved by the administration of the antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin E as well as by the radical scavengers glutathione and rebamipide. Vitamin E is further able to protect against hearing loss caused by the antibiotic gentamicin and the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin.
In addition to antioxidant vitamins, vitamin A also plays an important role. It can reduce the extent of hearing deterioration in noise workers. Furthermore, vitamin A has been detected in the outer as well as inner hair cells and the observation has been made in animal studies that vitamin A deficiency can increase sensitivity to noise-induced hearing loss. A good supply of vitamin A also serves to protect against infections of the middle ear, which can be explained by the fact that vitamin A is important for the proper function and structure of the mucous membranes.
A healthy lifestyle, that is, sufficient physical exercise, low noise exposure, a balanced diet rich in vital substances, moderate alcohol consumption, and refraining from smoking are the best preventive measures to prevent hearing loss in old age.