Tinnitus, or ringing of the ears, can be a mild or moderate problem or it can be very extreme. You may develop a moderate ringing of the ears and it can worsen with time. Tinnitus can start as a soft or loud noise and mimic buzzing, hissing, roaring, ringing, sizzling or humming. Certain supplements may help decrease the symptoms of tinnitus, but always consult with your health care provider prior to taking any supplements.
Zinc
The Department of ORL and HNS at the Gulhane Medical School located in Turkey performed a study to determine if zinc would help with tinnitus. The study consisted of 40 patients who suffered from tinnitus over a two-year span from 1998 to 2000. The subjects ranged in age from 19 to 67 and included 32 men and 8 women. The Department of ORL and HNS measured each subject's zinc serum levels at predetermined intervals. Each subject was also required to fill out a tinnitus scoring card. The study used the McNemar test and the Wilcoxon rank sum test for a statistical analysis. At the end of the study, only some of the elderly subjects in the study experienced relief of tinnitus due to the zinc supplement while other subjects had no improvement at all. The subjects who did experience tinnitus relief had a very apparent zinc deficiency. The subjects who did not experience relief did not have a deficiency. This may indicate that zinc supplements are only beneficial if you have a zinc deficiency.
Vitamin B-12
The Institute of Noise Hazards Research and Evoked Potentials Laboratory conducted a study to determine the efficiency of vitamin B-12 in the relief of tinnitus. Three different groups of subjects participated in the study. One group suffered from chronic tinnitus, one from noise-induced hearing loss, or NIHL, and the third group consisted of subjects who had normal hearing. The three groups consisted of 113 army personnel; the mean age was 39 years old. The outcome of the study was that some improvement of tinnitus and other related complaints emerged in those who suffered from a B-12 deficiency. This suggests that those who suffer from NIHL or tinnitus may have symptoms due to a vitamin B-12 deficiency. The study urges health care professionals to perform routine screenings of vitamin B-12 serum levels.
Melatonin
A study by the Ear Research Foundation in Sarasota, Florida, executed a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover trial to determine whether melatonin had any effect on tinnitus. Participants were given 3.0 mg of melatonin or a placebo each night for 30 nights, with a seven-day break between medications. The study consisted of 30 patients; all suffered from tinnitus. The conclusion of the study yielded that melatonin is useful in the treatment of those with subjective tinnitus.
Considerations
While some studies do show promising results, vitamin supplements should not replace any medication your physician has prescribed to help treat your condition. Even if your physician approves of the use of supplements to help treat your symptoms, only take them as recommended. Report any adverse effects or any other conditions that may arise.
References
- MedlinePlus: Tinnitus; July 2010
- Auris Nasus Larynx Periodicals: The Role of Zinc in Management of Tinnitus; S. Yetiser, F. Tosun, B. Satar, M. Arslanhan, T. Akcam and Y. Ozkaptan; Oct. 2002
- American Journal of Otolaryngology: Vitamin B-12 Deficiency in Patients with Chronic-Tinnitus and Noise-Induced Hearing Loss; Z. Shemesh, J. Attias, M. Ornan, N. Shapira, A. Shahar; April 1993
- The Laryngoscope: Effect of Melatonin on Tinnitus; S.I. Rosenberg, H. Silverstein, P.T. Rowan and M.J. Olds; March 1998
