Survey on the Effectiveness of Dietary Supplements to Treat Tinnitus

Claudia Coelho; Richard Tyler; Haihong Ji; Eveling Rojas-Roncancio; Shelley Witt; Pan Tao; Hyung-Jin Jun; Tang Chuan Wang; Marlan R Hansen; Bruce J Gantz

doi:10.1044/2016_AJA-16-0021

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Survey on the Effectiveness of Dietary Supplements to Treat Tinnitus

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Survey on the Effectiveness of Dietary Supplements to Treat Tinnitus

Claudia Coelho, Richard Tyler, Haihong Ji, Eveling Rojas-Roncancio, Shelley Witt, Pan Tao, Hyung-Jin Jun, Tang Chuan Wang, Marlan R Hansen and Bruce J Gantz

American journal of audiology, Vol.25(3), pp.184-205

09/01/2016

DOI: 10.1044/2016_AJA-16-0021

PMID: 27681261

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Abstract

We surveyed the benefit of dietary supplements to treat tinnitus and reported adverse effects. A website was created for people with tinnitus to complete a variety of questions. The 1,788 subjects who responded to questionnaires came from 53 different countries; 413 (23.1%) reported taking supplements. No effect on tinnitus was reported in 70.7%, improvement in 19.0%, and worsening in 10.3%. Adverse effects were reported in 6% (n = 36), including bleeding, diarrhea, headache, and others. Supplements were reported to be helpful for sleep: melatonin (effect size, d = 1.228) and lipoflavonoid (d = 0.5244); emotional reactions: melatonin (d = 0.6138) and lipoflavonoid (d = 0.457); hearing: Ginkgo biloba (d = 0.3758); and concentration Ginkgo biloba (d = 0.3611). The positive, subjective reports should be interpreted cautiously; many might have reported a positive effect because they were committed to treatment and expected a benefit. Users of supplements were more likely to have loudness hyperacusis and to have a louder tinnitus. The use of dietary supplements to treat tinnitus is common, particularly with Ginkgo biloba, lipoflavonoids, magnesium, melatonin, vitamin B12, and zinc. It is likely that some supplements will help with sleep for some patients. However, they are generally not effective, and many produced adverse effects. We concluded that dietary supplements should not be recommended to treat tinnitus but could have a positive outcome on tinnitus reactions in some people.

Tinnitus - drug therapy

Cross-Sectional Studies

Vitamin B Complex - therapeutic use

Humans

Middle Aged

Trace Elements - therapeutic use

Male

Vitamin B 12 - therapeutic use

Zinc - therapeutic use

Flavonoids - therapeutic use

Magnesium - therapeutic use

Ginkgo biloba

Tinnitus - complications

Hyperacusis - etiology

Central Nervous System Depressants - therapeutic use

Melatonin - therapeutic use

Female

Surveys and Questionnaires

Hyperacusis - drug therapy

Dietary Supplements

Plant Extracts - therapeutic use

Details

Title: Subtitle: Survey on the Effectiveness of Dietary Supplements to Treat Tinnitus
Creators: Claudia Coelho - University of Iowa, Iowa City
Richard Tyler - University of Iowa, Iowa City
Haihong Ji - University of Iowa, Iowa City
Eveling Rojas-Roncancio - University of Iowa, Iowa City
Shelley Witt - University of Iowa, Iowa City
Pan Tao - University of Iowa, Iowa City
Hyung-Jin Jun - University of Iowa, Iowa City
Tang Chuan Wang - University of Iowa, Iowa City
Marlan R Hansen - University of Iowa, Iowa City
Bruce J Gantz - University of Iowa, Iowa City
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: American journal of audiology, Vol.25(3), pp.184-205
Publisher: United States
DOI: 10.1044/2016_AJA-16-0021
PMID: 27681261
ISSN: 1059-0889
eISSN: 1558-9137
Language: English
Date published: 09/01/2016
Academic Unit: Communication Sciences and Disorders; Molecular Physiology and Biophysics; Neurosurgery; Otolaryngology
Record Identifier: 9984006353402771

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