Imagine being relentlessly tormented by a noise you can’t escape. It follows you everywhere you go. It’s a condition that affects over 50 million Americans, and it’s called tinnitus. There are no medical cures. But there are some vitamins that have been a sanity-saver for those who have tried them.
Most cases of tinnitus result from damage to the cochlea, a network in the ear that is crucial for healthy hearing. The vitamins that relieve the symptoms of tinnitus are believed to heal damage to the cochlea. Here’s a roundup of some vitamins that have worked for other tinnitus sufferers.
Vitamin A and E
The cochlea of the inner ear stores large reserves of Vitamin A and relies on those reserves to properly receive and interpret sound. Vitamin E provides an assist, and the two together are an effective treatment of tinnitus symptoms. Good sources of Vitamin A include tuna and spinach, as well as orange fruits and vegetables like:
- Yams
- Carrots
- Pumpkin
- Cantaloupe
Sources of Vitamin E include:
- Tofu
- Sunflower seeds
- Nuts
- Spinach
- Avocados
- Shrimp
- Shellfish
- Squash
- Broccoli
Vitamin B 12
Vitamin B12 is essential to proper nerve function, and a deficiency affects all of the senses: taste, touch, vision, and hearing. Not surprisingly, many tinnitus sufferers have low levels of vitamin B12. In fact, according to tinnitusdx, a Tel Aviv study of Israeli servicemen showed a significant correlation between tinnitus and B12 deficiency. Good dietary sources of B12 include:
- Lean meats
- Fish
- Eggs
- Dairy
Magnesium
Magnesium is included in a number of natural tinnitus remedies. Scientists believe that a deficiency in magnesium constricts blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the inner ear. Decreased blood flow leads to decreased oxygen, which affects the ability of the cochlea to function. Foods that contain magnesium include:
- Brown rice
- Bananas
- Beans
- Oats
Zinc
According to the journal Otology and Neurotology, zinc deficiencies are often associated with the onset of tinnitus. The University of Michigan reported that 25 percent of tinnitus sufferers who had low zinc levels noticed significant improvement when they consumed more zinc. Foods naturally high in zinc include:
- Oysters
- Wheat germ
- Veal liver
- Sesame seeds
The Tinnitus Reporter states that studies have discovered a link between Vitamin D and hearing loss. Our bodies need Vitamin D to process calcium, which is essential for healthy bones. Scientists theorize that a deficiency in calcium affects the formation of bones in the ear, resulting in hearing damage and tinnitus.
There Aren’t many foods that supply a significant amount of Vitamin D. Two are cheese and egg yolks. Some foods are fortified with Vitamin D. Still, studies show that we get only 20 percent of our Vitamin D from our diet. Our bodies make the rest, primarily from sunlight.