Eating Fish May Prevent Hearing Loss in Women

A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that the  consumption of two or more servings of fish per week may reduce the risk of hearing loss in women. This has been credited to the presence of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in fish. According to lead author, Sharon Curhan of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, "Acquired hearing loss is a highly prevalent and often disabling chronic health condition. Although a decline in hearing is often considered an inevitable aspect of aging, the identification of several potentially modifiable risk factors has provided new insight into possibilities for prevention or delay of acquired hearing loss." (More: Higher Caffeine Intake May Lower Ringing in the Ears) For the study researchers analyzed 65,215 women for almost a decade during which 11,606 cases of hearing loss were reported. When compared with women who rarely consumed fish, those who consumed two or more servings of fish per week had a 20 percent lower risk of hearing loss. When the women were examined individually it was found that higher consumption of each specific fish type was inversely associated with the risk. Higher intake of long-chain omega-3 PUFA was also inversely associated with risk of hearing loss as they may help in regulating the flow of blood to the inner ear. The study concluded that "consumption of any type of fish (tuna, dark fish, light fish, or shellfish) tended to be associated with lower risk. These findings suggest that our diet may be important in the prevention of acquired hearing loss." (More: Food That Prevent Hearing Loss) Polyunsaturated fats are also found in other foods like nuts, seeds and leafy greens. Previous studies have shown that consumption of omega-3 fatty acids may lower the risk of heart attacks. (More: Tickle Your Ears for a Healthy Heart)With inputs from IANS