Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol.  2015 Dec;8(4):335-338. 10.3342/ceo.2015.8.4.335.

Is Hypozincemia Related to Tinnitus?: A Population Study Using Data From the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

• Jun HJ
• Ok S
• Tyler R
• Hwang SY
• Chae S

• KMID: 2128906
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/ceo.2015.8.4.335

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The aim of present study was to determine the relationship between serum zinc level and tinnitus using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).
METHODS
The present study examined the relationship between serum zinc level and tinnitus using data from the KNHANES. A total of 2,225 KNHANES participants responded to the tinnitus questionnaire and provided blood samples to measure serum zinc concentration. Based on questionnaire responses, participants were categorized into control, mild tinnitus, moderate tinnitus, and severe tinnitus subgroups.
RESULTS
There were no significant differences between groups in serum zinc level after adjustment for sex, age, and hearing loss.
CONCLUSION
It was concluded that hypozincemia is not related to tinnitus in a large population.

Keyword

Tinnitus; Serum Zinc; Zinc Deficiency; Hearing Loss

MeSH Terms

Hearing Loss
Korea*
Nutrition Surveys*
Tinnitus*
Zinc
Zinc

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 The distribution of serum zinc concentration of participant by tinnitus severity group. Analysis of covariance was used to compare mean serum zinc level of groups and P-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

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