Ear ringing, also known as tinnitus, has affected 10 percent of the American population in the past year, according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. This condition is a symptom of an underlying problem with the auditory nerve that processes sound. Tinnitus can be caused by such things as an ear infection, chronically loud noises and hormonal changes. Fortunately, many causes of tinnitus do not cause permanent damage, if caught and treated early. Vitamins may help treat ear ringing that is caused by nutritional deficiencies or conditions that deplete nutrients. Consult your doctor for appropriate diagnosis and considerations of dosage.
Step 1
Take a vitamin B complex supplement daily. According to the University of Michigan Health System, people who have tinnitus due to consistent exposure to loud noise are usually deficient in vitamin B12. Additionally, the Life Extension website explains that some individuals report relief from ear ringing when taking supplemental vitamin B1, also known as thiamine. In order to get the right balance of B vitamins, use a B complex supplement, as it appears that B complex may be able to help stabilize the nerves in the ear, relieving tinnitus symptoms.
Step 2
Use vitamin A supplements. Vitamin A is found in high concentrations in the cochlea, says Dr. George Shambaugh, professor emeritus of otolaryngology and head and neck surgery at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. In one study, according to Shambaugh, low blood levels of vitamin A were associated with reduced hearing ability. In several other studies, 24 to 74 percent of those with tinnitus reported partial relief with vitamin A supplements, adds Shambaugh. He recommends that you take 30 mg, or 50,000 international units, of beta carotene, which he says you can take without worrying about toxicity.
Step 3
Take 15 mg a day of a vitamin E supplement in capsule form. According to the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University, although a deficiency in this vitamin is considered rare, Americans tend to have only a marginal intake. A deficiency in vitamin E can lead to neurological impairment and permanent nerve damage. Ear ringing, in some cases, is caused by problems with the neurological system. Taking a vitamin E supplement may help to prevent damage caused by a deficiency or lack of absorption. Vitamin E also acts as an antioxidant and can help protect the body from the effects of environmental pollutants that can cause neurological damage.
References
- National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders: Tinnitus
- Life Extension: Tinnitus
- University of Michigan Health System: Nutrients Might Prevent Hearing Loss in War Zones, Concert Halls and Workplaces, New Animal Study Suggests
- University of Michigan Health System: Tinnitus
- MotherNature.com: Tinnitus: Silencing the Ring: Vitamin A
- Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University: Vitamin E
