Age-Related Hearing Impairment and B Vitamin Status

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine, in elderly subjects, a possible association between age-related hearing impairment and vitamin B₁₂ or folic acid status. Ninety-one consecutive subjects with pure age-related hearing impairment, 35 males and 56 females, with a median age of 78 years, range 67-88 years, were included in the investigation. All subjects underwent a thorough evaluation, including pure-tone, speech and impedance audiometry. Blood samples were drawn for determination of B₁₂, folic acid and homocysteine and analysed by routine laboratory measurements. No significant differences in the blood parameters as a function of gender could be demonstrated and no correlations were found between B₁₂ or folic acid and hearing levels averaged across the range 0.5-4 kHz. A weak correlation between hearing levels and homocysteine (r=0.03; correlation coefficient 0.004) was found; however, a comparison of the hearing levels between those with increased and normal homocysteine failed to show any significant differences. In addition, no association between B₁₂ and the speech recognition score could be found. This investigation therefore fails to demonstrate any association between hearing level and vitamin B₁₂ or folic acid in elderly subjects.