title: Age-related hearing loss, methylmalonic acid, and vitamin B12 status in older adults.
abstract: Hearing loss has been associated with poor vitamin B12 status in some, but not all studies. This study examined a possible relationship between age-related hearing loss and poor B12 status in 93 older adults using different indices of B12 status. Hearing loss was defined as pure-tone average threshold > 25 decibel hearing level. Participants with methylmalonic acid (MMA) > 271 nmol/L at baseline received 1,000 g/d, and those with MMA < or = 271 nmol/L were randomly assigned to receive 0, 25, or 100 microg/d of B12. In a series of logistic regression analyses, compared with participants with normal hearing, those with impaired hearing had a significantly higher serum mean MMA concentrations in the best and the worst ears and a higher prevalence of elevated MMA (> 271 nmol/L) in the worst ear only. Thus, elevated MMA concentration may be associated with hearing loss in older adults. However, short-term B12 supplementation was unrelated to improvements in hearing status in B12-deficient individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Foods and Nutrition, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Sohyun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Kelly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shea-Miller
authors.forename: Albert R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: De Chicchis
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Sally P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Stabler
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000209:etiology*; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008764:Methylmalonic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood; D014806:Vitamin B 12 Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D014803:Vitamin B Complex / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006710:Homocysteine; D014803:Vitamin B Complex; D008764:Methylmalonic Acid; D003404:Creatinine; D014805:Vitamin B 12