The inflammatory potential of the diet is prospectively associated with subjective hearing loss

Abstract

Purpose: We investigated the association between the inflammatory potential of the diet and hearing loss in the context of aging.

Methods: We studied 3435 French adults enrolled in the SU.VI.MAX 2 (2007-2009) cohort. The inflammatory potential of the diet was estimated by the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII^®) using ≥ 3 baseline 24-h dietary records. Subjective hearing loss was assessed after a mean of 12.5 ± 0.7 years by 3 individual items (ability to carry a conversation in a noisy setting, frequently asking for repetition, and need to increase the television/radio volume) and by a composite score, dichotomized for analyses. We fit sex-specific multivariable logistic regression models.

Results: Compared with males, females had higher DII scores (i.e., more pro-inflammatory diet) and less subjective hearing loss. Among males, a significant positive association between DII (continuous scale) and inability to carry a conversation in a noisy setting was found (OR = 1.10; 95% CI 1.02, 1.18), while the opposite was seen among females (OR = 0.92; 95% CI 0.87, 0.98). Regarding the need to turn up the television/radio volume, a significant positive association with DII (continuous scale) was found only among males (OR = 1.09; 95% CI 1.01, 1.18). A significant association with the subjective hearing loss composite score was found among females (OR_{Q3 vs Q1} = 0.74; 95% CI 0.57, 0.97).

Conclusion: The findings among males supported the hypothesis that a pro-inflammatory diet could increase risk of hearing loss, whereas the findings among females were unexpected. This study could provide impetus for future research in sensory disability and aging.

Trial registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov # NCT00272428.

Keywords: Aging; Dietary Inflammatory Index; Dietary patterns; Hearing loss; Inflammation; Public health.