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Posted on Oct 08, 2009, 8 a.m.
Folate (folic acid), best known to reduce birth defects when taken by pregnant women, may reduce the risk of hearing loss in men.
Folate (folic acid) is present in leafy vegetables such as spinach, asparagus, turnip greens, and lettuces; it is also found in dried or fresh beans and peas, fortified cereal products, and sunflower seeds. Josef Shargorodsky, an otolaryngologist based in Boston, Massachusetts (USA) and colleagues studied data collected on 3,559 men enrolled in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study who experienced hearing loss. The researchers found that men over the age of 60 who consumed a higher intake of folates (via foods and/or dietary supplements) reduced their risk of developing hearing loss by 20%.
Josef Shargorodsky, Gary Curhan, Sharon Curhan, Ronald Eavey, MD. "Vitamin Intake and Risk of Hearing Loss in Men." Presented at the 2009 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO, October 5, 2009.
