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Hearing Loss and Tinnitus—Impact of Different Factors concerning Vulnerability-Lifestyle, Nutrition, Epidemiological Factors and Gender

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 October 2022) | Viewed by 16787

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Birgit Mazurek

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Guest Editor
Tinnitus Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
Interests: tinnitus; stress; comorbidities; psychometrics; psychology; phenotyping; audiology; hearing aids
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Holger Schulze

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
ENT-Clinic, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
Interests: neuroscience; neurophysiology; learning; neurobiology; physiology; neurobiology and brain physiology; audiology; hearing disorders; ear; brain
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Christian Dobel

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Experimental ENT, ENT-Clinic University Hospital Jena, 07743 Jena, Germany
Interests: cognitive psychology; neuroscience; applied psychology; semantics; cognitive neuroscience; brain; event-related potentials; memory; language; language learning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Winfried Schlee

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
Interests: tinnitus; mobile health; chronic disease; ecological momentary assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The WHO estimated that 430 million people worldwide suffer from moderate-to-severe hearing loss. This number will increase until 2050 to an estimate of around 700 million people who will need hearing rehabilitation.

One-third of the people with hearing loss experience tinnitus, that is, the perception of a sound despite the absence of an external source. Thus, tinnitus is not a rare symptom and affects a significant proportion of the general population. Although tinnitus prevalence rates vary considerably, European studies estimate a range between 11% and 30% and suggest an increased occurrence with age, hearing impairment or male gender. Tinnitus also has a substantial economic impact, with estimated costs for our societies of approximately EUR 117–325 billion annually in the EU. On a phenomenological level, emotional and cognitive difficulties can precede, exacerbate, or result from the tinnitus, and studies point to depressive mood as a key factor in rendering tinnitus distress. Studies have highlighted the effect of acute stress on auditory processing via processes that have also been implicated in anxiety or depression, such as changes in attention and cognition, changes in cortisol levels, or limbic processes.

Moreover, the prevalence of chronic diseases has increased in the last 10 years, with more frequently occurring combinations of several chronic disorders or combinations with chronic and acute disorders. The causal relationship between a single specific factor (nutrition, stress, lifestyle, genetic mutation, injury) and health deterioration is not always applicable in the context of chronic diseases, with their long-lasting course, large variance in patterns of symptom severity and frequency, as well as unclear pathophysiology.

This situation necessarily requires a paradigm shift in approaching the problem: chronic comorbid diseases should be considered as states of a multifactorial and complex system (the human being) that is perturbed and pushed into a pathological, imbalanced state through the influence of multiple factors (genetic background, molecular parameters, psychological factors, events such as trauma or age-related physiological changes, modulated for example by a certain lifestyle, nutrition, hearing ability, smoking, behavioral habits, physical activity, sex, or gender).

This Special Issue of Nutrients aims to focus on a collection of basic research and clinical studies detailing advancements in the field of hearing loss and tinnitus, with a focus on vulnerability factors. The aim is to better understand the trajectory of tinnitus-related maladaptation, to build predictive models for the development of the disturbed system, to identify novel biomarkers, and to develop treatment strategies taking into account the complex phenotypes of comorbidity spanning health- and non-health-related (e.g., nutrition, lifestyle, sex, gender) factors.

Prof. Dr. Birgit Mazurek
Prof. Dr. Holger Schulze
Prof. Dr. Christian Dobel
Dr. Winfried Schlee
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • hearing loss
  • tinnitus
  • nutrients
  • modification of biomarkers
  • aspects of nutrition
  • epidemiological factors
  • risk factors
  • environmental factors
  • degree of severity/burden of disease/factors improving well-being
  • lifestyle habits
  • health claims
  • public health
  • new diagnostic methods and novel treatment strategies
  • personalized system medicine approach
  • psychological intervention
  • new technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence approach)
  • decision support systems

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

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6 pages, 399 KiB  
Editorial
Tinnitus at the Junction of Traditional Medicine and Modern Technology
by Birgit Mazurek, Holger Schulze, Winfried Schlee and Christian Dobel
Nutrients 2023, 15(8), 1898; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15081898 - 14 Apr 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1838
Abstract
The WHO estimated that 430 million people worldwide suffer from moderate-to-severe hearing loss [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hearing Loss and Tinnitus—Impact of Different Factors concerning Vulnerability-Lifestyle, Nutrition, Epidemiological Factors and Gender)
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Research

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10 pages, 423 KiB  
Article
The Role of Diet in Tinnitus Onset: A Hospital-Based Case-Control Study from Italy
by Carlotta Micaela Jarach, Alessandra Lugo, Werner Garavello, Piet A. van den Brandt, Anna Odone, Christopher R. Cederroth, Cristina Bosetti and Silvano Gallus
Nutrients 2023, 15(3), 621; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15030621 - 25 Jan 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3815
Abstract
Knowledge on the role of diet in tinnitus onset is mostly based on few cross-sectional studies. In 2016–2019 we conducted a hospital-based case-control study in northern Italy on 185 incident idiopathic tinnitus cases and 198 controls, providing data on dietary habits through a [...] Read more.
Knowledge on the role of diet in tinnitus onset is mostly based on few cross-sectional studies. In 2016–2019 we conducted a hospital-based case-control study in northern Italy on 185 incident idiopathic tinnitus cases and 198 controls, providing data on dietary habits through a 37-item food-frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (OR) for tinnitus risk were derived through unconditional multiple logistic regression models. Moderate-to-high vs. low intake of caffeine (OR, 0.49; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.24–0.99) and butter (OR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.23–0.93), and high vs. low intake of poultry (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.23–0.81), prosciutto (OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.23–0.85), and legumes (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.28–0.92) were inversely associated with tinnitus onset. Other food items, including cereals, red meat, fish, vegetables, and fruit did not show any statistically significant relationship. The variety of food consumed decreased the risk of tinnitus (OR for at least 20 vs. less than 16 different food items, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.24–0.90). Our findings highlight the importance of diet in tinnitus onset and confirm a potential inverse association of protein-rich food and caffeine on the incidence of tinnitus. Confirmation of our findings in longitudinal studies is necessary before proving any diet recommendations for tinnitus prevention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hearing Loss and Tinnitus—Impact of Different Factors concerning Vulnerability-Lifestyle, Nutrition, Epidemiological Factors and Gender)
13 pages, 1220 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Diet on Tinnitus Severity: Results of a Large-Scale, Online Survey
by Steven C. Marcrum, Milena Engelke, Hazel Goedhart, Berthold Langguth, Winfried Schlee, Markku Vesala and Jorge P. Simoes
Nutrients 2022, 14(24), 5356; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14245356 - 16 Dec 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3271
Abstract
Optimization of dietary intake is an essential component in the multidimensional effort to prevent and manage chronic disease. Recently, demand has increased for nutrition-focused management strategies for chronic tinnitus. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate 10 dietary items for their [...] Read more.
Optimization of dietary intake is an essential component in the multidimensional effort to prevent and manage chronic disease. Recently, demand has increased for nutrition-focused management strategies for chronic tinnitus. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate 10 dietary items for their association with changes in subjective tinnitus severity. A secondary aim was to develop an algorithm to better identify those individuals who might benefit from dietary modification strategies. A total of 5017 anonymous users of the TinnitusTalk forum completed an online survey regarding how various dietary items affected the severity of their tinnitus. Results suggest that, while intake of caffeine [positive effect (PE): 0.4%; negative effect (NE): 16.2%], alcohol (PE: 2.7%; NE: 13.3%, and salt (PE: 0.1%; NE: 9.9%) was most likely to influence tinnitus severity, it did so only for a small proportion of participants and reported effects were most commonly mild. Further, though a classification algorithm was able to leverage participant demographic, comorbidity, and tinnitus characteristics to identify those individuals most likely to benefit from dietary modification above chance levels, further efforts are required to achieve significant clinical utility. Taken together, these results do not support dietary modification as a primary treatment strategy for chronic tinnitus in the general population, though clinically meaningful effects might be observable in certain individuals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hearing Loss and Tinnitus—Impact of Different Factors concerning Vulnerability-Lifestyle, Nutrition, Epidemiological Factors and Gender)
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16 pages, 8441 KiB  
Article
Preventive Effects of Ginkgo-Extract EGb 761® on Noise Trauma-Induced Cochlear Synaptopathy
by Konstantin Tziridis and Holger Schulze
Nutrients 2022, 14(15), 3015; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14153015 - 22 Jul 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2248
Abstract
Noise trauma-induced loss of ribbon synapses at the inner hair cells (IHC) of the cochlea may lead to hearing loss (HL), resulting in tinnitus. We are convinced that a successful and sustainable therapy of tinnitus has to treat both symptom and cause. One [...] Read more.
Noise trauma-induced loss of ribbon synapses at the inner hair cells (IHC) of the cochlea may lead to hearing loss (HL), resulting in tinnitus. We are convinced that a successful and sustainable therapy of tinnitus has to treat both symptom and cause. One of these causes may be the mentioned loss of ribbon synapses at the IHC of the cochlea. In this study, we investigated the possible preventive and curative effects of the Ginkgo biloba extract EGb 761® on noise-induced synaptopathy, HL, and tinnitus development in Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). To this end, 37 male animals received EGb 761® or placebo orally 3 weeks before (16 animals) or after (21 animals) a monaural acoustic noise trauma (2 kHz, 115 dB SPL, 75 min). Animals’ hearing thresholds were determined by auditory brainstem response (ABR) audiometry. A possible tinnitus percept was assessed by the gap prepulse inhibition acoustic startle reflex (GPIAS) response paradigm. Synaptopathy was quantified by cochlear immunofluorescence histology, counting the ribbon synapses of 15 IHCs at 11 different cochlear frequency locations per ear. We found a clear preventive effect of EGb 761® on ribbon synapse numbers with the surprising result of a significant increase in synaptic innervation on the trauma side relative to placebo-treated animals. Consequently, animals treated with EGb 761® before noise trauma did not develop a significant HL and were also less affected by tinnitus compared to placebo-treated animals. On the other hand, we did not see a curative effect (EGb 761® treatment after noise trauma) of the extract on ribbon synapse numbers and, consequently, a significant HL and no difference in tinnitus development compared to the placebo-treated animals. Taken together, EGb 761® prevented noise-induced HL and tinnitus by protecting from noise trauma-induced cochlear ribbon synapse loss; however, in our model, it did not restore lost ribbon synapses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hearing Loss and Tinnitus—Impact of Different Factors concerning Vulnerability-Lifestyle, Nutrition, Epidemiological Factors and Gender)
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15 pages, 341 KiB  
Article
Vascular–Metabolic Risk Factors and Psychological Stress in Patients with Chronic Tinnitus
by Benjamin Boecking, Sven Klasing, Michael Walter, Petra Brueggemann, Amarjargal Nyamaa, Matthias Rose and Birgit Mazurek
Nutrients 2022, 14(11), 2256; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14112256 - 28 May 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2423
Abstract
Little is known about molecular correlates of chronic tinnitus. We examined interrelationships between vascular–metabolic risk factors, perceived stress, and other routine blood values in patients with chronic tinnitus. Two-hundred patients (51% female) were screened for 49 blood parameters pertaining to vascular–metabolic risk, immune [...] Read more.
Little is known about molecular correlates of chronic tinnitus. We examined interrelationships between vascular–metabolic risk factors, perceived stress, and other routine blood values in patients with chronic tinnitus. Two-hundred patients (51% female) were screened for 49 blood parameters pertaining to vascular–metabolic risk, immune function, and redox processes. They further completed perceived stress- and tinnitus-related distress questionnaires. Following descriptive analyses, gender-specific sets of age- and tinnitus-severity-adjusted regression models investigated associations between perceived stress and blood parameters. Patients reported mildly elevated levels of perceived stress. Elevated levels of total cholesterol (65% and 61% of female and male patients, respectively), non-HDL-c (43/50%), LDL-c (56/59%), and lipoprotein_a (28/14%) were accompanied by high rates of overweight (99/100%) and smoking (28/31%). A low-level inflammatory state was accompanied by reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS)-neutralizing capacity (reduced co-enzyme Q10 and SOD1 levels). Most vascular risk factors were not correlated with perceived stress, except for fibrinogen (ß = −0.34) as well as C-reactive protein (ß = −0.31, p < 0.05) in men, and MCV (ß = −0.26, p < 0.05) in women. Interrelations between blood parameters and stress levels need to be investigated within psychobehavioural frameworks across varying distress levels. Alongside psychological interventions, a low-level inflammatory state may be a route for pharmacological therapeutics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hearing Loss and Tinnitus—Impact of Different Factors concerning Vulnerability-Lifestyle, Nutrition, Epidemiological Factors and Gender)

Other

Jump to: Editorial, Research

14 pages, 1917 KiB  
Opinion
Systems Medicine Approach for Tinnitus with Comorbid Disorders
by Birgit Mazurek, Matthias Rose, Holger Schulze and Christian Dobel
Nutrients 2022, 14(20), 4320; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14204320 - 15 Oct 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1845
Abstract
Despite the fact that chronic diseases usually occur together with a spectrum of possible comorbidities that may differ strongly between patients, they are classically still viewed as distinct disease entities and, consequently, are often treated with uniform therapies. Unfortunately, such an approach does [...] Read more.
Despite the fact that chronic diseases usually occur together with a spectrum of possible comorbidities that may differ strongly between patients, they are classically still viewed as distinct disease entities and, consequently, are often treated with uniform therapies. Unfortunately, such an approach does not take into account that different combinations of symptoms and comorbidities may result from different pathological (e.g., environmental, genetic, dietary, etc.) factors, which require specific and individualised therapeutic strategies. In this opinion paper, we aim to put forward a more differentiated, systems medicine approach to disease and patient treatment. To elaborate on this concept, we focus on the interplay of tinnitus, depression, and chronic pain. In our view, these conditions can be characterised by a variety of phenotypes composed of variable sets of symptoms and biomarkers, rather than distinct disease entities. The knowledge of the interplay of such symptoms and biomarkers will provide the key to a deeper, mechanistic understanding of disease pathologies. This paves the way for prediction and prevention of disease pathways, including more personalised and effective treatment strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hearing Loss and Tinnitus—Impact of Different Factors concerning Vulnerability-Lifestyle, Nutrition, Epidemiological Factors and Gender)
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