Age-related hearing loss affects millions of Americans. It is estimated that 30% of Americans age 65 and over suffer from some degree of hearing loss.
A recent study in the December 2010 issue of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, shows a link between low blood levels of folic acid in elderly people and high-frequency hearing loss. High frequency hearing loss is very common in the elderly and tends to cause speech to sound unclear and difficult to distinguish.
The study was performed on 126 elderly Nigerian men and women above 60 y.o. who had no medical conditions.
Although the study focused on individuals in developing countries where malnutrition is common, it is well-known that many of the elderly in industrialized countries also have poor eating habits and nutrition.
Folic acid can be found in dark green leafy vegetables. It is also available in supplement form.
Apparently, it's not just for women looking to have healthy babies. As it seems to support the nervous system, we may all benefit from folic acid.
Please consult your healthcare professional before using any supplement to insure it is appropriate for you.
Note: Some individuals due to genetics, cannot process regular folic acid supplements and need a different form. One such product is called metafolin. But there others. Google the topic.
iherb.com sells a variety of products and tends to discount their prices.
Keep your hearing healthy!
