The therapeutic role of vitamin e and c on non syndromic sensorineural hearing loss

Abstract EN

Objectives: Antioxidants help in preventing further degeneration or possibly even reverse degenerative processes after they have been activated.

Free radical scavengers, such as vitamin E and vitamin C, protect inner ear from oxidative damage.

To evaluate the efficacy of two classes of agents found effective in preventing sensorineural hearing loss (antioxidants and low fat diet) and determine if it can improve the degree of hearing loss by preventing oxidative damage. Methods: fifty four patients were divided into two groups, twenty four patients were given vitamin E and C for two months and thirty patients were given low fat diet (without animal fats) for two months.

Auditory function was monitored along with plasma concentrations of ? carotene, vitamins A, E and C and lipid peroxidation.

Also, zinc, copper, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium together with immunoglobulin G, M and A levels were estimated before and after treatment. Results: Significant increase in antioxidants and decrease in lipid peroxidation was observed in the group which was given vitamin E and C.

The addition of antioxidants significantly enhanced the evoked responsiveness over that observed with the low fat diet group indicating a putative role of antioxidants in the pathogenesis of sensorineural hearing loss. Conclusion: The findings showed that supplemental dietary antioxidant may have a beneficial role in the prevention of deafness. It also proved a relationship between low fat diet and improvement of hearing loss.