Researchers have found that taking nutritional supplements may affect the progression of genetically caused hearing loss. The full article can be read here, at Michigan Health Lab.
Background to the Study
Hearing loss can be temporary or lifelong and may develop slowly or very suddenly. Certain dietary supplements have been shown in some cases to reduce hearing loss caused by overstimulation or a group of antibiotics called aminoglycosides. In addition, similar dietary supplements slowed the progression of deafness in the case of a boy who had an alteration to the GJB2 gene, which has been linked to hearing loss. The researchers behind the recent study, published in Scientific Reports, investigated the effects of nutritional supplements in mouse models of two genetic alterations linked to hearing loss in people.
How the Study Was Done
Dietary supplements were tested on three groups of mice. Two of the groups had altered GJB2 genes (a common cause of childhood deafness) and were either given nutritional supplements in the womb or after weaning. The third group had an alteration to the DIAPH3 gene (linked to auditory neuropathy) and were given supplements after weaning. There were also control groups of mice that were not given supplements.
The supplements contained vitamins C, E, and a precursor to A, and magnesium.
What the Researchers Found
The outcome of the study showed different effects of the supplements in different groups. The mice with the GJB2 gene alteration (GJB2-CKO) that were given supplements showed a significant improvement in hearing thresholds compared to the mice with the same alteration that did not receive supplements.
However, the mice with the DIAPH3 alteration (DIAP3-TG) actually showed worse hearing thresholds when given the supplements. The researchers concluded that the nutritional supplements used in the study could affect the progression of genetic hearing loss. However, it also seems dependent on the specific genetic cause.
Many children who are born with a genetic alteration that will lead to deafness develop hearing loss later in life, rather than at birth. Dr Green, an author on the study, says that this suggests that there could be a way to prevent the decline in hearing. He says,
“for these childhood cases it’s crucial that we identify therapies that prevent progression and reverse loss of hearing.”
The effects of the nutritional supplements need to be further studied, and more research needs to be done on people. However, this study suggests that this could be a promising area of research.
