Vitamin Cocktail May prevent Noise Induced Hearing Loss

Posted by HearingAids on November 15, 2010 under Hearing Loss, Prevention | Be the First to Comment

“ Soldiers exposed to the deafening din of battle have little defense against hearing loss and are often reluctant to wear protective gear like ear plugs that could make them less able to react to danger. But what if a nutritious daily “candy bar” could prevent much of that potential damage to their hearing?” (Joseph M. Miller, Ph.D., U of M Health System’s Kresge Hearing Research Institute, 28 March 2007).

About 10 million people in the U.S. alone are suffering from noise-induced hearing loss, including veterans and youth exposed to blaring music under headphones.  Researchers at UM and UF are hoping to reverse the rise in NIHL by implementing a “cocktail” of vitamins and the mineral magnesium.

Recent studies at the University of Michigan, University of Florida, and NIDCD have revealed that noise exposure triggers the formation of molecules (free radicals) known to cause hair cell death.  Free radicals are highly corrosive molecules that exist naturally within the human body and destroy the inner/outer hair cells during and after noise exposure. Free radical formation begins and then peaks several days after exposure.

Prior to these studies, scientists believed that exposure to loud noise damaged the hair cells by the pure force of the loud sound vibrations. In this case, the only prevention was to reduce exposure and/or to use hearing protection.

U-M researchers have discovered that the combination of vitamins, when mixed with magnesium, can prevent noise-induced damage by blocking some of the cellular reactions.  Vitamins A, C, E and magnesium, antioxidants which protect cells from the damaging effects of free radicals, are already widely used supplements and therefore do not require FDA approval.

A clinical study investigating the combination of vitamins A, C, E and Magnesium (Auraquell-TM, UM Kresge Hearing Research Institute) taken one hour before noise exposure, as a once-daily treatment in pill form for five days, was very effective with an 80% success rate at preventing permanent NIHL in animals.

Testing has been implemented in a set of four multinational human clinical trials, all funded by the NIH – military trials in Sweden & Spain, industrial trial in Spain, and a trial involving students at UF who listen to music at high volumes on iPods and other PDAs.

Animal studies thus far have shown a reduction in threshold shifts, ranging from 45 dB to 10 dB, representing a greater than 1000 fold improvement in hearing sensitivity.  Guinea pigs were treated one hour prior to noise exposure and again immediately post-noise exposure.  Daily treatments continued for five days post noise exposure.  Post-noise nutrient doses may scavenge the free radicals that continue to form post exposure.   Ten days post treatment, auditory sensitivity was evaluated, revealing the improved thresholds.

Reduction in NIHL was achieved by prevention of sensory cell death in the Organ of Corti.  The animal studies were done by using a control group (saline), Mg group, ACE group, and ACEMg group.  When the antioxidants were administered alone, NIHL still occurred; only with the addition of Mg was the improvement in the post-noise thresholds noticed.

Magnesium is a vasodilator and may have the added benefit of reducing swelling of the auditory nerve by preventing the noise induced calcium influx. The calcium influx contributes to the free radical damage.

Auraquell-TM will be regulated in the U.S. by the FDA’s Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA), and label claims for the product will be made following 21 CFR 101.70 regulation and not through the IND/NDA process.   This will allow the manufacturer, Otomedicine, Inc., to launch Auraquell-TM with defined and FDA-approved health claims in a shorter amount of time (4-5 years).  Auraquell-TM will be a preventative treatment used in conjunction with conventional hearing protection.

In addition to prevention of NIHL, studies are underway to research the role of free radicals in drug-induced hearing loss and age-related hearing loss.  Miller’s research has also shown that local application of “Thiourea” (antioxidant) can prevent hearing loss without compromising the efficacy of the anti-cancer medication, Cisplatin, to destroy cancer cells.

“Other people would likely benefit by consuming a pill or nutritional bar before going to work in noisy environments, or attending noisy events like NASCAR races or rock concerts, or even using an iPod or other music players,” (LePrell, Ph.D)