The inflammatory potential of the diet is prospectively associated with subjective hearing loss

We investigated the association between the inflammatory potential of the diet and hearing loss in the context of aging.

We studied 3435 French adults enrolled in the SU.VI.MAX 2 (2007-2009) cohort. The inflammatory potential of the diet was estimated by the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII^®) using ≥ 3 baseline 24-h dietary records. Subjective hearing loss was assessed after a mean of 12.5 ± 0.7 years by 3 individual items (ability to carry a conversation in a noisy setting, frequently asking for repetition, and need to increase the television/radio volume) and by a composite score, dichotomized for analyses. We fit sex-specific multivariable logistic regression models.

Compared with males, females had higher DII scores (i.e., more pro-inflammatory diet) and less subjective hearing loss. Among males, a significant positive association between DII (continuous scale) and inability to carry a conversation in a noisy setting was found (OR = 1.10; 95% CI 1.02, 1.18), while the opposite was seen among females (OR = 0.92; 95% CI 0.87, 0.98). Regarding the need to turn up the television/radio volume, a significant positive association with DII (continuous scale) was found only among males (OR = 1.09; 95% CI 1.01, 1.18). A significant association with the subjective hearing loss composite score was found among females (OR_{Q3 vs Q1} = 0.74; 95% CI 0.57, 0.97).

The findings among males supported the hypothesis that a pro-inflammatory diet could increase risk of hearing loss, whereas the findings among females were unexpected. This study could provide impetus for future research in sensory disability and aging.

www.clinicaltrials.gov # NCT00272428.