The University of Maryland Medical Center describes tinnitus as a condition that causes you to hear sounds in your ears that do not come from outside sources. These sounds can include ringing, buzzing, roaring or other noises. Everyone experiences this at some point in their lives, but when it is chronic, it can prevent you from concentrating and sleeping. There may not always be a cure for tinnitus, depending on the underlying cause, but some vitamins may help decrease symptoms. Talk with your doctor about what supplements may be helpful to you before using any remedies.
Step 1
Take a vitamin B-12 supplement. According to a 1993 study published in the "American Journal of Otolaryngology" by Z. Shemesh and colleagues, a deficiency of this vitamin was associated with hearing problems. When vitamin B-12 was administered, some improvement in tinnitus was reported. Not all studies have shown this effect, and it is not definitively known whether this vitamin diminishes tinnitus in everyone.
Step 2
Consume beta-carotene, vitamin E and vitamin C supplements. A mixture of these supplements was shown to help reduce the intensity of tinnitus in a 2007 study by M. Savastano and researchers that was published in the "Archives of Medical Research."
Step 3
Take a zinc supplement. A 2007 article by C.B. Coelho and collealgues in the journal "Progress in Brain Research," states that individuals with tinnitus were more likely to have a zinc deficiency, and supplementation with this vitamin was found to have a beneficial effect on tinnitus. Small studies found zinc to help with tinnitus symptoms, but larger studies need to be done to confirm this effect.
References
- PubMed.gov: "American Journal of Otolaryngology"; Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Patients with Chronic-Tinnitus and Noise-Induced Hearing Loss; Z Shemesh et al; 1993
- PubMed.gov: "Archives of Medical Research"; Antioxidant Therapy in Idiopathic Tinnitus: Preliminary Outcomes; M Savastano et al; 2007
- PubMed.gov: "Progress in Brain Research"; Zinc as a Possible Treatment for Tinnitus; CB Coelho et al; 2007
