Vitamin supplements have been denounced by many health professionals as a waste of money. A new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that antioxidants vitamins such as beta-carotene and vitamin C, along with the mineral magnesium, are associated with better hearing.
The researchers reviewed data from more than 2,500 volunteers in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The investigators noted that free radical formation in the ear contributes to hearing loss, so they had participants fill out a detailed 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire and undergo audiology testing.
People with better intake of beta-carotene, vitamin C and magnesium from both food and supplements were less likely to have hearing loss. The researchers recommend that people consume diets with plenty of yellow and orange vegetables, for beta-carotene, citrus fruit for vitamin C, and green leafy vegetables, nuts, legumes and whole grains as good sources of magnesium.
