May 9, 2024

Increased Omega-3 Intake May Protect Against Age-Related Hearing Loss

McBurney, a Fellow of the American Society for Nutrition and the Canadian Nutrition Society, will provide the findings at NUTRITION 2023, the flagship yearly meeting of the American Society for Nutrition held July 22– 25 in Boston.
Using information from the UK Biobank, the scientists evaluated self-reported hearing status and blood DHA levels of over 100,000 individuals 40-69 years of age in the United Kingdom. After representing prospective confounding variables, the outcomes showed that people in the greatest quintile (one-fifth of individuals) of blood DHA levels were 16% less likely to answer yes to the question do you have difficulty hearing compared to those in the least expensive quintile of DHA levels. Likewise, those in the highest quintile for DHA levels were 11% less likely to address yes to the concern do you have difficulty following conversations when there is background sound compared with individuals in the most affordable quintile for DHA levels.
While the results show a significant association in between DHA levels and hearing, McBurney cautioned that a cross-sectional population research study does not offer enough proof to definitively conclude that DHA maintains auditory function or that insufficient DHA levels add to hearing loss. The findings add to a mounting body of evidence of the value of omega-3 fatty acids, consisting of DHA in particular, to maintain health and aid safeguard versus aging-related decreases in a variety of body functions.
Omega-3s might help to secure the health of cells in the inner ear or alleviate inflammatory responses to loud noises, chemicals, or infections. Previous research studies performed in older adults and in animals have actually similarly suggested that higher omega-3 levels are inversely related to and might protect against age-related hearing loss.
Our bodies have a limited ability to produce DHA, so the quantity of DHA found in our blood and tissues mostly depends on our omega-3 intake. DHA levels can be increased by frequently consuming seafood or by taking dietary supplements.
” There is strong evidence that greater blood levels of omega-3 fats are helpful,” said McBurney. “Fatty fish and omega-3 supplements are both good dietary sources. If choosing to use a dietary supplement, compare products by checking out the Supplement Facts panel for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)+ DHA content.”
It is approximated that around 20% of individuals– over 1.5 billion individuals worldwide– live with hearing loss, and this number is expected to rise as the population ages in the coming years. Hearing loss can range from moderate to profound; it affects communication and social interactions, instructional and task chances, and numerous other aspects of every day life.
Environmental aspects as well as hereditary proclivities and medications contribute to hearing loss. Proven ways to reduce the threat of hearing loss include safeguarding the ears from loud noises by using protective devices and getting proper treatment for infections.
McBurney will provide this research at 8:09 a.m. EDT on Monday, July 24, during the Nutrition-related Factors in Aging and Chronic Disease Poster Theater Flash Session in the Sheraton Boston, Fairfax.
Association of Plasma Omega-3 Blood Levels and Prevalent Hearing Loss in the UK Biobank
Background: An approximated 1.57 billion individuals globally suffer from hearing loss (~ 20% of the population). Higher consumptions of fish have actually been correlated with age-related hearing loss in human beings and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation assisted avoid hearing loss in mice.
Objectives: To evaluate cross-sectional associations in between plasma omega-3 fats, i.e., docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and self-reported hearing loss in the UK Biobank which collected information from questionnaires, biological samples and physical measurements on 502,639 people 40-69y in between 2007-2010.” Among people with plasma DHA information (n=117,938), hearing data were offered for between 71,368 and 115,303 individuals [57 ± 8y(mean ± SD); 54% female], depending upon the result. DHA was determined as % overall plasma fatty acids by nuclear magnetic resonance. A” yes” to any of the following questions made up proof for some kind of hearing loss: 1) do y ou have problem hearing; 2) do you discover it hard to follow a conversation if there is background noise, e.g., a TV, radio, supper party, and so on; and 3) do you use a listening devices many of the time? Logistic regression models were constructed by DHA quintile adjusted for age, sex, and several extra group and case history variables.
Thirty-eight percent of 115,303 participants reported trouble hearing, 26% of 113,134 reported background noise hearing issues, and 5% of 71,368 respondents utilized hearing aids. Individuals in the top DHA quintile were 8 to 20% less most likely to report hearing concerns (vs most affordable quintile). Other mates should be explored to confirm the inverse association of plasma DHA with event hearing loss and the effects of increased DHA intakes on hearing metrics must be tested in randomized trials identifying prospective causal mechanisms.

New research has discovered a considerable inverted correlation in between blood levels of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA and age-related hearing troubles in adults. This study adds to the increasing body of evidence supporting the function of omega-3 fats, particularly DHA, in maintaining health and avoiding age-related health issues.
A recent research study links higher levels of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA with a decreased probability of reporting age-related hearing troubles, reinforcing the growing evidence of omega-3s role in health care and prevention of aging-related disorders.
Scientists report that blood levels of the omega-3 fat docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were inversely associated with hearing difficulty in a new population-based cross-sectional study. Middle-aged and older grownups with higher DHA levels were 8-20% less likely to report age-related hearing issues than those with lower DHA levels.
” Higher DHA levels have previously been found to be connected with a lower danger of heart problem, cognitive impairment, and death. Our research study extends these findings to recommend a role for DHA in keeping acoustic function and helping minimize the risk of age-related hearing loss,” said Michael I. McBurney, PhD, a senior researcher with the Fatty Acid Research Institute and an accessory teacher in the Department of Human Health & & Nutritional Sciences at the University of Guelph and the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.

Using information from the UK Biobank, the researchers analyzed self-reported hearing status and blood DHA levels of over 100,000 individuals 40-69 years of age in the United Kingdom. After accounting for potential confounding variables, the results showed that individuals in the greatest quintile (one-fifth of individuals) of blood DHA levels were 16% less likely to address yes to the concern do you have trouble hearing compared with those in the most affordable quintile of DHA levels. Those in the highest quintile for DHA levels were 11% less likely to respond to yes to the question do you have trouble following discussions when there is background sound compared with individuals in the least expensive quintile for DHA levels.
DHA was measured as % overall plasma fatty acids by nuclear magnetic resonance. Other friends should be explored to verify the inverted association of plasma DHA with event hearing loss and the impacts of increased DHA consumptions on hearing metrics need to be tested in randomized trials determining prospective causal mechanisms.