title: Antioxidant therapy in the elderly with tinnitus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several approaches have been tried for the treatment of tinnitus, from cognitive-behavioral therapies and sound enrichment to medication. In this context, antioxidants, widely used in numerous areas of medicine, appear to represent a promising approach for the control of this symptom, which often is poorly controlled.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of antioxidant therapy for tinnitus in a group of elderly patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The sample consisted of 58 subjects aged 60 years or older, with a complaint of tinnitus associated with sensorineural hearing loss. These individuals completed the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaire before and after six months of therapy. The treatment regimens were: Ginkgo biloba dry extract (120mg/day), α-lipoic acid (60mg/day)+vitamin C (600mg/day), papaverine hydrochloride (100mg/day)+vitamin E (400mg/day), and placebo.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistically significant difference between THI by degree (p=0.441) and by score (p=0.848) before and after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no benefit from the use of antioxidant agents for tinnitus in this sample.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Hospital de Clínicas, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: jfpolanski@gmail.com.
authors.forename: José Fernando
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Polanski
authors.affiliation: Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandra Dezani
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.affiliation: Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Oswaldo Laércio
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: de Mendonça Cruz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D020441:Ginkgo biloba / Q000737:chemistry*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010208:Papaverine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014810:Vitamin E; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D010208:Papaverine; D001205:Ascorbic Acid
keywords: Aged; Antioxidantes; Antioxidants; Idoso; Tinnitus; Zumbido