(Mercola.com) SSNHL, which is a sudden, unexplained loss of hearing, impacts about five to 20 people per 100,000 each year, although it’s suspected that a significant number of cases go unreported.
While it’s not known exactly why some people develop SSNHL, one theory is that a viral infection or immunologic disease is involved, which brings us to zinc. The reason why zinc has received some attention in regard to fighting colds is because it appears to have some anti-viral properties that prevent the cold virus from replicating or attaching to your nasal membranes. Research also indicates zinc may have immune-boosting properties, allowing your body to mount a stronger first response at the onset of a viral infection. This may help explain new research showing zinc supplementation may enhance the hearing recovery of SSNHL patients.
For the study, 66 SSNHL patients were randomly divided into two groups. Thirty-three were given corticosteroid treatment (control group) and 33 were given oral zinc gluconate plus corticosteroid treatment (zinc group). The zinc group reported a significantly larger hearing gain, an increased percentage of recovery, and an increased rate of successful recovery compared with the control group. Further, a significant correlation was found between serum zinc level changes and post-treatment hearing thresholds. Regarding zinc, the researchers noted: “Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects may help reduce the oxidative stress of the cochlea in SSNHL, implying a new direction in the treatment of this disease.”
