July 25, 2023 – According to a recent study, higher omega-3 fatty acid intake may reduce the danger of age-related hearing loss.
“Low levels of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are associated with hearing loss in middle and old age, according to findings to be presented Monday at a meeting of the American Society for Nutrition in Boston,” HealthDay reports.
However, research found that middle-aged and older individuals who had higher DHA levels were 8 to twenty percent less more likely to have hearing problems than individuals with lower DHA levels.
All this doesn't mean that DHA prevents hearing loss, said study leader Michael McBurney of the Fatty Acid Research Institute in South Dakota and associate professor on the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. But it does contribute to the growing awareness of the importance of fatty acids against age-related impairments of a variety of bodily functions.
“Our results should not be interpreted to mean that low blood DHA levels cause hearing loss,” “but our findings add to the emerging science that suggests DHA may play an important role in maintaining hearing function.”
The results are considered preliminary until they're published in a peer-reviewed journal, HealthDay wrote. It's also unclear whether DHA supplements improve hearing.
In the study, researchers checked out data from 115,000 people aged between 40 and 69 who were a part of the UK Biobank. People with the best DHA levels were 16% more more likely to don't have any hearing problems in comparison with individuals with the bottom levels.
Researchers aren't sure how DHA might protect hearing. They say it's possible that omega-3 fatty acids protect cells within the inner ear. Or they may reduce inflammation attributable to loud noises and infections.