title: The Role of Trace Elements in Tinnitus.
abstract: In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of three trace elements, namely, zinc, copper, and lead, in tinnitus by analyzing the serum level of copper and lead and both the serum and tissue level of zinc. Eighty patients, who applied to outpatient otolaryngology clinic with the complaints of having tinnitus, and 28 healthy volunteers were included. High-frequency audiometry was performed, and participants who had hearing loss according to the pure tone average were excluded; tinnitus frequency and loudness were determined and tinnitus reaction questionnaire scores were obtained from the patients. Of all the participants, serum zinc, copper, and lead values were measured; moreover, zinc levels were examined in hair samples. The levels of trace elements were compared between tinnitus and control groups. The level of copper was found to be significantly lower in the tinnitus group (p = 0.02), but there was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the levels of zinc, neither in serum nor in hair, and lead in serum (p > 0.05). The lack of trace elements, especially that of "zinc," have been doubted for the etiopathogenesis of tinnitus in the literature; however, we only found copper levels to be low in patients having tinnitus.
authors: Department of ENT, Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Sanayi Mah. Atatürk Bulvarı Hastane Cad. No:7, 38010, Kocasinan, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Yaşar
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Erciyes University Medical School, Talas Yolu, 38039, Melikgazi, Kayseri, Turkey. misahin@erciyes.edu.tr.
authors: Mehmet İlhan
authors: Mİ
authors: Şahin
authors: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Sanayi Mah. Atatürk Bulvarı Hastane Cad. No:7, 38010, Kocasinan, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors: Çiğdem
authors: Ç
authors: Karakükçü
authors: Department of ENT, Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Sanayi Mah. Atatürk Bulvarı Hastane Cad. No:7, 38010, Kocasinan, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors: Erhan
authors: E
authors: Güneri
authors: Department of ENT, Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Sanayi Mah. Atatürk Bulvarı Hastane Cad. No:7, 38010, Kocasinan, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors: Murat
authors: M
authors: Doğan
authors: Department of ENT, Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Sanayi Mah. Atatürk Bulvarı Hastane Cad. No:7, 38010, Kocasinan, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Sağıt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001299:Audiometry / Q000379:methods; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper; D015032:Zinc
keywords: Copper; Lead; Tinnitus; Trace elements; Zinc