A new study suggests that incorporating caffeine, fruit, and dairy in your diet may reduce the risk of developing tinnitus. Image credit: Basak Gurbuz Derman/Getty Images. This article first appeared on Medical News Today.
Tinnitus affects approximately 740 million people worldwide. While there is no definitive cure for tinnitus, previous studies have shown that there are ways to lower the risk of developing the condition, including maintaining a healthy diet. According to recent research, increasing your intake of fruit, fiber, dairy products, and caffeine could potentially reduce your risk of tinnitus.
Tinnitus is a chronic hearing condition that causes individuals to hear persistent sounds in one or both ears, commonly described as a “ringing in the ears.” Various factors can contribute to tinnitus, such as hearing loss, ear infections, thyroid issues, and Meniere’s disease, a condition affecting the inner ear.
Although there is no one-size-fits-all solution for tinnitus, lifestyle choices can influence its development. Strategies such as protecting your hearing from loud noises, managing stress, getting sufficient rest, and maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels are recommended to lower the risk of tinnitus.
Research has also examined the impact of a nutritious diet on tinnitus risk. For instance, a study from February 2020 suggested that a diet rich in vitamin B12 and proteins could decrease the likelihood of developing tinnitus. Additionally, a study from December 2024 found that consuming certain types of fish was associated with a reduced risk of persistent tinnitus in women.
The most recent study, published in BMJ Open, analyzed data from eight studies involving over 301,000 adults aged 18 and older. The researchers identified specific dietary factors that could influence tinnitus risk, including fruit, fiber, dairy products, and caffeine. Participants who consumed higher levels of these foods had a lower risk of developing tinnitus, with fruit reducing the risk by 35%, dairy products by 17%, caffeine by 10%, and dietary fiber by 8%.
The study did not find significant associations between the remaining dietary factors and tinnitus risk. This research underscores the importance of lifestyle factors in managing tinnitus risk.
Rachel Artsma, AuD, CCC-A, a senior audiologist at Hear.com, shared her insights on the study, highlighting the potential impact of dietary habits on tinnitus risk. She emphasized the significance of lifestyle choices in mitigating the challenges associated with tinnitus, such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances.
While treatment options like hearing aids and sound therapy are available for managing tinnitus, adopting a balanced diet rich in fruit, fiber, dairy, and caffeine may also contribute to reducing its incidence.
Managing symptoms is important, but prevention is always the preferred approach. Identifying modifiable risk factors such as diet can empower patients to take control of their health. Incorporating these insights into comprehensive tinnitus management strategies may improve patient outcomes beyond traditional interventions, according to an expert.
Virginia Toth, AuD, CCC-A, who manages audiology for the Tinnitus and Balance Program at Hackensack Meridian JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in New Jersey, emphasized the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. She cautioned readers to carefully interpret research findings linking diet and tinnitus, stressing the need for further studies to determine the impact of diet on auditory health.
Rebecca Lewis, AuD, audiologist and audiology director of the Adult & Pediatric Cochlear Implant Program at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in California, highlighted the potential benefits of a healthy diet on tinnitus. She called for clinical trials to assess the effects of dietary patterns on tinnitus severity and recommended longitudinal studies to establish stronger causal relationships.
Lewis also suggested exploring caffeine-specific research, differentiating between acute and chronic tinnitus across populations with and without hearing loss. She proposed using objective measures such as imaging studies and auditory system tests to evaluate diet-related changes in tinnitus. Moving towards personalized approaches to treatment and prevention, Lewis emphasized the importance of understanding tinnitus based on individual factors like genetics, pre-existing conditions, and diet for more effective management and prevention strategies.
