Improvement in cochlear flow in patients with tinnitus with the complex supplement Acustop: a product evaluation

Patients with tinnitus constitute a very large group without a real, specific therapeutic solution. With noninvasive, color duplex it is possible to measure flow in the cochlear artery and to follow duplex flow changes due to treatments in most patients. The aim of this preliminary evaluation was to study flow variations in patients with "mild-to-moderate" tinnitus, possibly associated to cochlear hypo-perfusion, after administration of Acustop (used as a food supplement). The aim was to improve cochlear flow decreasing the level of tinnitus.

Patients with "mild-to-moderate", "idiopathic", monolateral tinnitus, present for at least 4 weeks were included; no vertigo or important hearing loss had been observed. The origin of tinnitus had been sudden (hours or days). The tinnitus was associated to a decrease in cochlear flow measured by color Duplex at the affected ear. A group of 42 patients was evaluated; 25 used Acustop; there were 17 controls (follow-up only). Groups were comparable for their clinical problem and other details. The average duration of treatment was 4 weeks.

No side effects were observed and no drop-outs were recorded. Flow velocity at the level of the affected inner ear was significantly lower (both the diastolic and systolic components; P<0.05) in comparison with the other ear. This was considered an indication of the vascular origin of the tinnitus. With Acustop treatment there was a significant improvement in systolic (P<0.05) and diastolic flow velocity (P<0.05). The increase in flow velocity was not significant in controls. An analogue scale line was used to measure symptoms in the Acustop group: it was 8.2;2 at inclusion; it decreased to 3.1;1.5 at 4 weeks (P<0.05). The score was 8.4;2 in controls at inclusion; at 4 weeks the score was 7.1;2.2 (not significant). Tinnitus scale: the value at inclusion of the tinnitus scale in the Acustop group a was 8.5;1.1 versus 8.3;1.2 in controls. After 4 weeks the score was 3.1;1.1 (P<0.05) in the Acustop group vs 7.2 in controls; the difference between the two groups was significant; P<0.025).

In conclusion, these results suggest that in selected patients with tinnitus and altered inner ear perfusion Acustop appears to be effective in relieving tinnitus possibly by improving cochlear flow. More studies should be planned to evaluate better the potential applications of Acustop in this very interesting field. This clinical problem affects a large number of patients, without a real therapeutic solution at the moment, decreasing their quality of life and their performing abilities.