Researchers in China believe eating more fruit, dietary fibre, dairy products and caffeine may reduce the risk of tinnitus.
To investigate the link between diet and the condition, the researchers from Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine combined the results of eight observational studies involving just over 300,000 people in total.
Their research, published in the open access journal BMJ Open, considered 15 different dietary factors, including carbohydrates, caffeine, eggs, fruits, fibres, fat, meat, protein, sugar, fish, vegetables and dairy.
They established that higher fruit intake was linked to a 35% reduction in tinnitus risk, dietary fibre a 9% reduction, dairy products a 17% reduction and caffeine a 10% reduction.
Despite involving more than 300,000 people, the researchers say their findings are based on a relatively small base of evidence and the studies they looked at can’t prove these diet choices caused the participants’ lower tinnitus risk, but they believe their findings support the theory that high-quality nutrients can help prevent ear and hearing damage.
Tinnitus is the perception of sound (ringing, buzzing or clicking) when there’s no external source. Data suggests it affects around 14% of adults worldwide and is associated with depression, anxiety, stress, and in severe cases, suicide.
There is no cure, but treatments such as counselling, behavioural therapy, medications, and hearing aids can help to reduce symptoms.
Diet is also understood to have an impact. It’s thought that eating high-quality nutrients can have a positive effect by improving blood flow to the inner ear and reducing oxidative damage and inflammation. But previous studies show conflicting results and it’s still uncertain which specific foods worsen or relieve symptoms.
However, the researchers suggest that “the primary underlying mechanisms may involve the protective effects of these diets on blood vessels and nerves, as well as their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties” and say further large-scale studies are needed “to complement and verify the relationship between dietary intake and tinnitus”.
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