Micronutrients to Prevent Noise-induced Hearing Loss
Summary
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a significant clinical, social, and economic issue. Studies in animals have allowed us to identify mechanisms contributing to NIHL, including direct mechanical trauma, free radicals formed in association with metabolic stress, and reduced blood flow. A combination of antioxidant vitamins (beta-carotene, and vitamins C and E) and the mineral magnesium (which acts in part as a vasodilator but also as an antioxidant) is highly effective in preventing NIHL in animals. These studies evaluate efficacy of this intervention in humans. Hypothesis: Treatment with these micronutrients provides safe, effective attenuation of acute hearing changes induced by exposure to real-world sounds producing temporary (non-permanent) or permanent hearing changes induced by exposure to real-world sounds. Experiment 1: "Digital Audio Player" studies (University of Florida, Gainesville). Prevention of \*temporary\* elevations in hearing thresholds, induced by exposure to moderately loud music, will be measured. Subjects will be 70 young adults with equal numbers of male and female participants.
Timeline
- Start
- 2008-10
- Primary completion
- 2013-12
- Completion
- 2013-12
Publications
- Background Le Prell CG, Fulbright A, Spankovich C, Griffiths SK, Lobarinas E, Campbell KC, Antonelli PJ, Green GE, Guire K, Miller JM. Dietary supplement comprised of beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and magnesium: failure to prevent music-induced temporary threshold shift. Audiol Neurotol Extra. 2016 May-Aug;6(2):20-39. doi: 10.1159/000446600. Epub 2016 Jul 5.
- Results Le Prell CG, Johnson AC, Lindblad AC, Skjonsberg A, Ulfendahl M, Guire K, Green GE, Campbell KC, Miller JM. Increased vitamin plasma levels in Swedish military personnel treated with nutrients prior to automatic weapon training. Noise Health. 2011 Nov-Dec;13(55):432-43. doi: 10.4103/1463-1741.90317.
- Spankovich C, Le Prell CG. Associations between dietary quality, noise, and hearing: data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2002. Int J Audiol. 2014 Nov;53(11):796-809. doi: 10.3109/14992027.2014.921340. Epub 2014 Jun 30.
- Le Prell CG, Yang Q, Harris JG. Modification of digital music files for use in human temporary threshold shift studies. J Acoust Soc Am. 2011 Oct;130(4):EL142-6. doi: 10.1121/1.3630017.
Drugs
| Evaluation | Drug | Modality | Dose | Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Magnesium Sulfate | Other / unclassified | 315 mg | Oral |
| Subject | Vitamin C | Other / unclassified | 500 mg | Oral |
| Subject | Vitamin E | Other / unclassified | 267 mg | Oral |
| Subject | beta-carotene | Small molecule | 18 mg | Oral |