Salmon, rapeseed oil, nuts… Consuming foods with a high content of omega-3 fatty acids can have a positive effect on hearing.
- Hearing loss affects more than 10% of the French population.
- Adults with high levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid, were less likely to suffer from age-related hearing problems.
- To prevent hearing loss, it is advisable to eat foods rich in fatty acids, for example oily fish, and to take food supplements.
More than 10% of the French population is faced with hearing loss, according to health insurance. Recently, Canadian and American researchers have shown that a diet rich in omega-3 helps prevent hearing loss. To reach this conclusion, they performed a studythe results of which were presented at the American Society for Nutrition’s Nutrition 2023 meeting, which took place July 22-25 in Boston.
DHA: adults with high levels are less likely to report hearing problems
As part of their research, the scientists used data from the UK Biobank. They analyzed the hearing status and blood levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid, of more than 100,000 Britons aged 40 to 69. After controlling for different variables, results showed that adults with high levels of docosahexaenoic acid were 16% less likely to answer yes to the question “do you have difficulty hearing” compared to people in the group having low blood levels of omega-3s. Similarly, participants with high DHA levels were 11% less likely to answer yes to the question “do you have difficulty following conversations when there is background noise” compared to other volunteers.
Consume oily fish and food supplements to fill up on omega-3s
According to the team, omega-3 fatty acids may help protect inner ear cell health or dampen inflammatory responses to loud noises, chemicals or infections. The body has a limited ability to produce DHA, so the amount of DHA present in our blood and tissues is largely dependent on our omega-3 intake. “There is strong evidence that higher blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial. Fatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring, sardines and anchovies) and dietary supplements ‘omega-3s are good dietary sources’, said Michael McBurney, author of the work.
