Are you turning up the volume or asking people to repeat what they are saying? Perhaps your body is crying out for the nutrients that are vital for supporting your senses, including your sense of hearing. Hearing loss is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, the Hearing Loss Association of America reports that 20% of Americans suffer from some degree of hearing loss. Although it is important to seek medical attention if you have noticed a decrease in your ability to hear clearly, there are also some vitamins and minerals that are important for supporting your hearing, and the inclusion of these nutrients may help to support your ability to hear properly. These nutrients can also play an important role in reducing your risks of developing age-related hearing loss and other auditory conditions. The most important nutrients for supporting hearing are:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Minerals

Vitamin A for Hearing and Hearing Loss

Vitamin A may play a significant role in supporting healthy hearing. A study performed on 59 alcoholic patients found that vitamin A deficiency in these patients was linked to poor hearing, and that sufficient quantities of vitamin A may therefore be essential for supporting your ears and your sense of hearing. Vitamin A deficiencies are more common than you might think, with vitamin A deficiencies accounting for over 500 000 cases of blindness annually. Vitamin A occurs naturally as the red or yellow coloring in vegetables like sweet potato, carrots, and various types of greens. Vitamin A occurs as carotenoids and retinoids, and different forms support different functions in your body. The retinoid form of vitamin A generally supports healthy growth and development. Retinoids support healthy cell production, and are vital for the production of red and white blood cells in the body. The carotenoid forms of vitamin A generally act as antioxidants that protect the body, and, particularly, the sensory organs like the eyes and ears, from free radical damage. Vitamin A does not only support the ears and eyes, but also promotes healthy teeth and bones, and it is vital for supporting immune system health and function.

Vitamin C for Hearing Support

Vitamin C is a powerful water soluble antioxidant that protects the body from free radical damage, and it protects your sense of hearing from damage that can cause hearing loss and age-related degeneration, too. In a study on elderly patients with hearing loss, vitamin C supplementation of 600 mg per day, along with other vitamins, significantly improved hearing at all frequencies. Vitamin C is vital for supporting overall general health. It supports immune function and plays an important role in protecting your body. A diet high in vitamin C is therefore crucial for your health.

Vitamin E for Hearing Support

Vitamin E is a powerful fat soluble antioxidant that also protects the body and, in combination with vitamin C, vitamin E provides protection for the structures of the ears that support hearing. In a study on the effects of oxidative stress on the ears due to free radicals and subsequent loss of hearing, researchers found that higher levels of vitamins C, E, and magnesium protected the hair cells in the upper cochlea which are responsible for supporting healthy hearing. Free radicals occur everywhere in the body, and it is important to ensure your diet includes both fat and water soluble antioxidants to protect the body from the damage that free radicals can cause. Damage to the delicate structures of the ears can result in hearing loss, and vitamins like vitamin E and vitamin C play vital roles in protecting you from this type of damage.

Minerals for Hearing

There are also a number of different minerals that play roles in supporting your sense of hearing. Selenium plays a vital role in removing heavy metals from the body and for supporting overall detoxification. Studies have linked heavy metal toxicity to a loss of hearing and supplementation with selenium has been found to be helpful as an additional treatment for hearing loss. Magnesium supplementation has also been linked to a decrease in hearing loss. Zinc has been implicated in the prevention of hearing loss.

Nutritional Support for Hearing

The most important thing to realize is that the body relies on you to provide it with all of the nutrients that support health. There are over 90 different essential minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and other nutrients that you have to include in your diet in order to support overall good health. While it is possible to provide your body with the vitamins and minerals needed from the food you eat, a good multivitamin makes it easier for you to support your body nutritionally.