Firm studies dietary solution to hearing loss
Israeli flavours and health ingredients giant Frutarom is preparing to conduct a clinical study on a proprietary blend of vitamins, minerals, botanical extracts and amino acids claimed to offer a dietary solution to age-related hearing loss.
Dubbed Audiosafe, the blend is intended “to support healthy hearing and fight age and noise related damage”, said Ronit Schick, functional supplements category manager at Frutarom. “To date, there is no effective means to prevent or attenuate age-related hearing decay and its aggravation due to accumulating noise exposure.
"The focus of damage is the delicate hair cells in the internal ear, through which sound waves are translated to electric signals and transmitted to the brain. In Audiosafe, we combine evidence-based ingredients that have been shown to protect the hair cells from such damage through different mechanisms such as direct scavenging of radicals, activation of cellular defense systems and promotion of cell rehabilitation.”
As we age, said Schick, “the number of hair cells decreases, beginning usually in the high frequency waves and gradually progressing to speech frequencies”. In vitro and in-vivo studies had demonstrated the role of free radicals and oxidative damage in age and noise related hearing loss, added Schick.
While the individual ingredients in the Audiosafe blend were supported by clinical studies, further studies on the blend itself would be essential if Frutarom is to prove its efficacy and secure health claims, acknowledged Schick. “Frutarom is planning to conduct a clinical study on the proprietary blend, which together with the published literature will be used to submit a health claim under article 13.5 [claims based on new and emerging science] of the EU health claims Regulation.”
It was too early to discuss the proposed wording of a possible claim, added Schick.
The relationship between diet and hearing loss is a relatively new area of nutritional research, although several studies have indicated that supplementation with vitamins, folic acid, magnesium or combinations of these nutrients could prove beneficial.Health claims applications about ginkgo biloba and Symplocos racemosa bark and “supporting the health of the ears” are also awaiting assessment under article 13.1 of the EU health claims Regulation.
The University of Michigan recently conducted human trials into diet and hearing loss following encouraging results from earlier animal studies. These demonstrated that feeding guinea pigs antioxidant vitamins and minerals prior to exposure to loud noise could prevent temporary noise-induced hearing loss.
In humans, temporary noise-induced hearing loss typically goes away after a few hours or days as the cells in the inner ear heal. Because repeated temporary hearing loss can lead to permanent hearing loss, the researchers speculate that prevention of temporary changes could ultimately reduce the risk of permanent damage.
About 26M Americans have noise-induced hearing loss, according to the US National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, which funded the studies.Frutarom is the seventh largest supplier of flavours in the world but also a significant player in the supply of natural ingredients from soy isoflavones to fenugreek soluble fibre.
