A new research study published this month in the medical journal Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery makes a link between low levels of folic acid in the blood and age-related hearing loss in the elderly.
A new research study published this month in the medical journal Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery makes a link between low levels of folic acid in the blood and age-related hearing loss in the elderly.
In the study, 126 Nigerian women and men ages 60 years old and above were interviewed face-to-face by a group of researchers and were then asked to undergo examination conducted by physicians. All 126 participants had no known health conditions during the study and those who were discovered to have a history of ear surgery, ear trauma, ear infections, ear diseases, hypertension, stroke and diabetes were excluded from the study. The author of the study, Akeem Olawale Lasisi, MBChB, FWACS, FMCORL, said that the findings showed that low levels of folic acid present in an elderly person’s serum is significantly linked to high frequency hearing loss.
Folate, otherwise known as vitamin B9, is a form of vitamin that is naturally found in some forms of food. It is important to the functions of the vascular system, the nervous system and in cellular metabolism and is essential for the auditory system to function well. Low serum levels of folic acid are expected in the study population because they do not get enough of the medical attention that they deserve, according to the authors. The study also points up the need to conduct more studies regarding the role that vitamins play when it comes to auditory function.
My advice: ensuring you consume enough B9 is a prudent move given the vitamin’s importance to many body functions, including hearing. Good sources include spinach, asparagus, broccoli, avocado, peanuts, wheat germ and eggs.