Vitamin E and vitamin C in the treatment of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that the administration of vitamin E and vitamin C to patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL) has beneficial effects by reducing the level of reactive oxygen metabolites produced by inner ear ischaemia and reperfusion injury after treatment.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of antioxidant vitamin E and vitamin C in the treatment of ISSHL.


METHODS
In a retrospective chart review, a total of 87 patients were enrolled who fulfilled the following inclusion criteria: 1) sudden onset of sensorineural hearing loss, 2) cause of hearing loss unknown, 3) hearing loss did not fluctuate, 4) arithmetic mean of hearing levels at 250, 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz exceeded 40 dB and 5) treatment was started within 14 days from the onset of hearing loss. All the patients were treated with steroids and/or alprostadil. In the study group, patients additionally received vitamin E (tocopherol nicotinate, 600 mg/day) and vitamin C (1200 mg/day) orally.


RESULTS
The hearing gain after therapy was 29.4 dB and the improvement rate was 63.3% in the study group, compared with 18.5 dB and 44.0% in the control group. Significant improvement was seen in the hearing gain and recovery rate in the study group.
Hatano
Miyako
M
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Kouseiren Takaoka Hospital, Takaoka, Japan.
Uramoto
Naoki
N
Okabe
Yozo
Y
Furukawa
Mitsuru
M
Ito
Makoto
M
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000527:Alprostadil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000187:drug effects; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D024505:Tocopherols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000975:Antioxidants; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D011239:Prednisolone; D000527:Alprostadil; D014805:Vitamin B 12; D001205:Ascorbic Acid; D024505:Tocopherols