Age-related hearing impairment and B vitamin status

The aim of this study was to examine, in elderly subjects, a possible association between age-related hearing impairment and vitamin B12 or folic acid status. Ninety-one consecutive subjects with pure age-related hearing impairment, 35 males and 56 females, with a median age of 78 years, range 67-88 years, were included in the investigation. All subjects underwent a thorough evaluation, including pure-tone, speech and impedance audiometry. Blood samples were drawn for determination of B12, folic acid and homocysteine and analysed by routine laboratory measurements. No significant differences in the blood parameters as a function of gender could be demonstrated and no correlations were found between B12 or folic acid and hearing levels averaged across the range 0.5-4 kHz. A weak correlation between hearing levels and homocysteine (r = 0.03; correlation coefficient 0.004) was found; however, a comparison of the hearing levels between those with increased and normal homocysteine failed to show any significant differences. In addition, no association between B12 and the speech recognition score could be found. This investigation therefore fails to demonstrate any association between hearing level and vitamin B12 or folic acid in elderly subjects.