Tuesday, April 27, 2010

RESEARCH NEWS: Folate Supplementation May Reduce Risk of Hearing Loss in Elderly Men

Authors of a study of 26,273 men aged 40 to 74 found that supplementation with folate may be associated with a reduced risk of hearing loss in older men (60+ years).

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Folate Supplementation May Reduce Risk of Hearing Loss in Elderly Men

Reference: "A prospective study of vitamin intake and the risk of hearing loss in men," Shargorodsky J, Curhan GC, et al, Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2010; 142(2): 231-6. (Address: Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 181 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA. E-mail: Josef_Shargorodsky@meei.harvard.edu ).

Summary: In a prospective study involving 26,273 men aged 40 to 74 years, results indicate that supplementation with folate may be associated with a reduced risk of hearing loss in older men (60+ years). Information on diet and lifestyle were collected at baseline and every four years using questionnaires. During 18 years of follow up, 3,559 cases of hearing loss were identified. After adjusting for potential confounders, total folate intake (diet + supplements) was inversely associated with risk of hearing loss in men aged 60 years or more, where the highest quintile of folate intake was associated with a 21% reduced risk of hearing loss, compared with the lowest quintile of intake. However, overall no significant association was observed between vitamin intake and hearing loss. Thus, the authors of this study conclude, "Men aged > or =60 years may benefit from higher folate intake to reduce the risk of developing hearing loss."

SOURCE: VitaSearch

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