Omega-3 Fatty Acids Reduce Hearing Loss

A recently published study investigated the relationship between intake of omega-3 fatty acids and the development of age-related hearing loss, known as presbycusis. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) states that approximately 17 percent of American adults (36 million) report some degree of hearing loss. Additionally, age is strongly related to the development of hearing impairment, affecting 18 percent of American adults 45-64 years old, 30 percent of adults 65-74 years old and 47 percent of adults aged 75 years old or older.

In this new study, researchers evaluated omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake in 2,956 subjects 50 years of age or older using a food-frequency questionnaire. The subjects were then evaluated for age-related hearing loss. The study participants were also re-evaluated after 5 years.

The results of the study found that increased intake of omega-3 fatty acids resulted in a reduced risk of developing age-related hearing loss. Intake of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids was associated with a 24 percent reduction in the risk of incident hearing loss. The subjects who ate 2 or more servings of fish per week had a 42 percent reduction in the risk of developing presbycusis at the 5-year follow-up compared to the subjects who ate less than one serving of fish per week. In addition, intake of one or more serving of fish per week was associated with a 47 percent reduction in risk of hearing loss progression.

The researchers concluded, “There was an inverse association between higher intakes of long-chain omega-3 PUFAs and regular weekly consumption of fish and hearing loss. Dietary intervention with omega-3 PUFAs could prevent or delay the development of age-related hearing loss.”

Gopinath B, Flood VM, Rochtchina E, McMahon CM, Mitchell P. Consumption of omega-3 fatty acids and fish and risk of age-related hearing loss. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Jun 9. Published Online Ahead of Print.