therapeutic role of vitamin E and C on non syndromic sensorineural hearing loss

ABSTRACT

Antioxidants help in preventing further degeneration or possibly even reverse degenerative processes after they have been activated. Free radical scavengers, such as vitamin E and vitamin C, protect inner ear from oxidative damage. To evaluate the efficacy of two classes of agents found effective in preventing sensorineural hearing loss [antioxidants and low fat diet] and determine if it can improve the degree of hearing loss by preventing oxidative damage. fifty four patients were divided into two groups, twenty four patients were given vitamin E and C for two months and thirty patients were given low fat diet [without animal fats] for two months. Auditory function was monitored along with plasma concentrations of Beta carotene, vitamins A, E and C and lipid peroxidation. Also, zinc, copper, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium together with immunoglobulin G, M and A levels were estimated before and after treatment. Significant increase in antioxidants and decrease in lipid peroxidation was observed in the group which was given vitamin E and C. The addition of antioxidants significantly enhanced the evoked responsiveness over that observed with the low fat diet group indicating a putative role of antioxidants in the pathogenesis of sensorineural hearing loss. The findings showed that supplemental dietary antioxidant may have a beneficial role in the prevention of deafness. It also proved a relationship between low fat diet and improvement of hearing loss