AJE: Diet May Influence the Risk of Tinnitus in Women

Diet may influence the risk of developing tinnitus in women, according to a study by U.S. researchers. The findings suggest that certain foods can either reduce or increase the likelihood of chronic tinnitus. The study was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology (AJE).

The researchers analyzed data from two large cohorts—the Nurses’ Health Study and Nurses’ Health Study II—covering a total of more than 113,000 women. Follow-up spanned several decades, from the 1980s through 2021–2022, allowing the team to assess long-term associations between diet and the risk of persistent tinnitus.

The analysis showed that adherence to an overall “healthy” diet did not always reduce the risk of tinnitus. However, specific foods had a noticeable impact. Higher fruit consumption was associated with a lower risk in both cohorts. In contrast, women with the highest intake of whole grains, legumes, and sugar-sweetened beverages had a higher risk of developing tinnitus.

According to the researchers’ estimates, women with the highest fruit intake had about a 19% lower risk compared with those who consumed fruit less frequently. At the same time, high consumption of whole grains was associated with an approximately 26% higher risk, legumes with a 13% higher risk, and sugary drinks with a 12% higher risk. Similar results were observed in a subgroup of participants for whom lifetime noise exposure data were available.

The authors emphasized that these findings do not mean that women should avoid whole grains or legumes, which are generally considered healthy foods.

“Our study suggests that diet may play a role in the development of chronic tinnitus; however, at this stage we do not recommend avoiding foods that are typically part of a healthy diet,” the researchers noted.

They added that the results highlight the complexity of the relationship between diet and hearing health and point to the need for further studies to clarify the biological mechanisms involved and to refine dietary recommendations.

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