Did You Hear The Good News?

I love live music and going to concerts, but hate the “party noises” I hear for days afterwards. Good news for concert go-er everywhere: Studies using guinea pigs and mice found that supplements of beta carotene and vitamin C and E, and the mineral magnesium taken prior to exposure of loud noise could prevent both temporary and permanent hearing loss. Previous studies using these same supplements have shown that they are safe for long term use. Researchers report that the animals who consumed the vitamins did not suffer from temporary hearing loss, even after being exposed to four-hours of 110 decibel (dB) noise, similar to those reached at a loud concert. This cocktail of antioxidants is reported to prevent cell loss in an inner ear structure called the lateral wall. This structure is linked to age-related hearing loss caused by free radicals. There is also on-going research into the effect of MP3 headphones on college students, noise-exposed military troops and factory workers.

I am relieved to know I can prevent some of the damage done to my ears, and that both guinea pigs and mice can be protected from hearing loss.

-Community Assistant