Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2015 Dec;58(12):831-835. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2015.58.12.831.

Therapeutic Effects of Zinc on Patients Who Have Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss with Normal Serum Zinc Level

• Kim YR
• Kim YH

• KMID: 2135823
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3342/kjorl-hns.2015.58.12.831

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Zinc has antioxidant effect, anti-inflammatory effect and neuromodulative function. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether treatment with zinc can improve the outcome of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
The study group consisted of 143 patients diagnosed as SSNHL. Of the patients, 82 were given corticosteroid treatment (group Ct) and 61 were given oral zinc plus corticosteroid treatment (group Zn). In group Zn, serum zinc level was checked before treatment and the patients with normal serum zinc level were included. Hearing was assessed before therapy and at 2 weeks, 1 month and 2 months after the initiation of therapy.
RESULTS
A significantly larger hearing gain in pure tone average (group Ct vs. group Zn=26.40 dB HL vs. 34.28 dB HL) and at 2000 Hz (group Ct vs. group Zn=24.93 dB HL vs. 33.60 dB HL) and 8000 Hz (group Ct vs. group Zn=11.64 dB HL vs. 20.66 dB HL) were seen in group Zn compared with the group Ct.
CONCLUSION
Oral zinc supplementation may have beneficial effects in the treatment of SSNHL, especially at 2000 and 8000 Hz.

Keyword

Sudden hearing loss; Zinc

MeSH Terms

Antioxidants
Hearing
Hearing Loss, Sensorineural*
Hearing Loss, Sudden
Humans
Zinc*
Antioxidants
Zinc