According to a study from Brigham and Women’s Hospital just published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, fish and Omega 3 fatty acids in the diet are associated with a lower risk of hearing loss in women.
The study showed that consumption of two or more servings of fish per week provided this benefit. Researcher Sharon Curhan explains,”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.”
The study data was taken from the Nurses’ Health Study II in which over 65,000 women were surveyed over a 28 year period from 1991 to 2009. At then end of that time there were greater than 11,600 cases of hearing loss reported.
When dietary intake of fish was compared, women who ate two or more servings of fish per week had a 20 percent lower risk of hearing loss compared to the women who rarely ate fish. “Consumption of any type of fish (tuna, dark fish, light fish, or shellfish) tended to be associated with lower risk,” according to researcher Curhan.
Higher intake of long-chain >omega-3 fatty acids was also associated with a lower risk of hearing loss.
In summary we have yet another benefit of omega 3 fatty acids indicated by research. This suggests that taking omega-3 supplements by those who cannot or don’t wish to eat fish, may provide this benefit as well.
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