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What Did You Say? Vitamins and Magnesium Linked to Less Hearing Loss

Vitamin supplements have been denounced by many health professionals as a waste of money. A new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that antioxidants vitamins such as beta-carotene and vitamin C, along with the mineral magnesium, are associated with better hearing.

The researchers reviewed data from more than 2,500 volunteers in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The investigators noted that free radical formation in the ear contributes to hearing loss, so they had participants fill out a detailed 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire and undergo audiology testing.

People with better intake of beta-carotene, vitamin C and magnesium from both food and supplements were less likely to have hearing loss. The researchers recommend that people consume diets with plenty of yellow and orange vegetables, for beta-carotene, citrus fruit for vitamin C, and green leafy vegetables, nuts, legumes and whole grains as good sources of magnesium.

[American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Jan, 2014]

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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