title: Low-fat and low-protein diets are associated with hearing discomfort among the elderly of Korea.
abstract: Research on the effect of low-fat intake on hearing is limited. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between fat, carbohydrate and protein intake and the presence of hearing discomfort among the elderly. The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was conducted from 2009 through to 2012. A total of 4615 participants ranging in age from 60 to 80 years underwent a pure-tone audiometric evaluation, a physical examination and a nutritional survey. The associations between the participants' hearing thresholds and their protein/fat/carbohydrate intake/total energy intake were analysed using simple and multiple regression models with complex sampling adjusted for confounding factors, such as BMI, income level, smoking status and a history of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes. Low fat and protein intakes were associated with hearing discomfort (OR 0·82, 95 % CI 0·71, 0·96, P=0·011; OR 0·81, 95 % CI 0·67, 0·96, P=0·017, respectively). This study revealed that low fat and protein intakes are associated with hearing discomfort in the elderly Korean population.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery and Cancer Research Institute,Seoul National University College of Medicine,Seoul,110-744 Korea.
authors.forename: So Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Statistics,Hallym University,Chuncheon,200-702 Korea.
authors.forename: Songyong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery,Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital,Anyang,431-796 Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung-Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery,Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital,Anyang,431-796 Korea.
authors.forename: Hyo Geun
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001299:Audiometry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D056910:Republic of Korea
keywords: Asia; Carbohydrates; Diet; Dietary fat; Elderly; KNHANES Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey; Protein