Hearing and Diet (Narrative Review)

Abstract

It seems that food factors and the type of nutrition have an effect on the function of the auditory system. Hearing is one of the most important senses for social communication and high cognitive behaviors. Sensorineural hearing loss leaves adverse and permanent consequences in all aspects of personal and social life of affected patients. Hence, this narrative review study was designed to determine the relationship between sensorineural hearing loss and type of diet. Based on the inclusion criteria, the full text of 62 articles published between 2005 and 2023 were extracted from Scopus, Medline [PubMed], Web of Science, and Google Scholar websites and constituted the sources of this research. The results of the studies showed that by limiting the consumption of foods rich in cholesterol, sugar, carbohydrates, and protein, hearing is protected against the factors that cause sensorineural hearing loss. Also, increasing the consumption of vegetables, fruits, omega-3, antioxidants in the form of vitamins A, C, E reduce hearing susceptibility due to noise exposure, presbycusis, ototoxic agents, and etc. Healthy diet includes eating all the nutrients the body needs in a balanced way. Healthy lifestyle factors including continuous physical activity, good sleep quality, quitting smoking, stay away from stressful factors or relaxation, and avoiding exposure to environmental noise. By following healthy eating and lifestyle patterns, the conditions for hearing, physical and mental health are provided.

Keywords: Hearing; Nutrition; Sensorineural Hearing Loss.