Tinnitus affects millions of adults.
Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of any external stimulus. Oxidative stress is possibly involved in tinnitus
Alpha lipoic acid is a powerful antioxidant which has actually been studied in tinnitus:
A 2023 research study examined the effect of lipoic acid in tinnitus
Study Snapshot 1
The 2023 study was from Italy
Participants
A group of adults with tinnitus associated with likely cochlear dysfunction
and
A group of adults subjects with ear lesions
Intervention
600 mg alpha lipoic acid
2 months
The severity of tinnitus was measured with the tinnitus handicap inventory (THI)
Researchers found improvement in the
Total THI score
Functional THI score
Emotional THI score
Loudness of tinnitus
This means that alpha lipoic acid supplementation in people with tinnitus reduced the effects of tinnitus, including reduced the loudness of tinnitus and resulted in better function and emotional health for people with tinnitus
There is another, similar study from 2019. Thsi was a gold standard trial - randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Study Snapshot 2
The 2019 study was from Greece
Intervention
600 mg alpha lipoic acid
3 months
Researchers found improvement in the
Tinnitus loudness
minimum masking level
Tinnitus severity
The research concluded:
'In conclusion, antioxidant with alpha lipoic acid therapy seems to reduce the subjective discomfort and tinnitus intensity in tinnitus patients'
Although, this was only one study, people with tinnnitus may want to try 600mg alpha lipoic acid supplementation daily for 3 months to see if there any benefits
Check out Lipoic Acid Phix which contains:
60 capsules of 300mg R Alpha Lipoic Acid + essential micronutrients (Vitamins B1, B6, B12, D3, chromium, zinc)
This is 30 daily servings of 600mg
Vitamins for tinnitus: Vitamin B12
A 1979 report of a lady with severe tinnitus was presented by 2 doctors. This lady was found to have pernicious anaemia, which leads to severe vitamin B12 deficiency. This lady was treated with vitamin B12 which 'resulted in disappearance of her tinnitus'.
Newer research from 1993, 2012, 2019 and 2021 also linked tinnitus to vitamin B12 deficiency.
I (Dr Conor Kerley) could 2 studies regarding vitamin B12 supplementation and tinnitus
One reported that 'Some patients improved following vitamin B12 supplementation'
The second study reported significant improvement in tinnitus after vitamin B12.
It seems that vitamin B12 supplements are most beneficial when a person with tinnitus has low levels.
Vitamins for tinnitus: Vitamin D
A 2021 Polish study measured vitamin D levels in people with tinnitus compared to people with tinnitus. The researchers found:
- much lower vitamin D in tinnitus
- more vitamin D deficiency in tinnitus
- the lower the vitaminD, the more severe the tinnitus
This study highlights that vitamin D levels need attention for people with tinnitus and that vitamin D supplementation may be beneficial.
Supplements for tinnitus: Zinc
Multiple studies have found lower zinc levels in the blood of people with tinnitus, with research reported that up to 69% of people with tinnitus are deficient in zinc.
Some studies of zinc supplementation in tinnitus reported benefit while some other studies reported no benefit.
For people with tinnitus, taking a supplement containing alpha lipoic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin D3 and zinc such as Lipoic Acid Phix appears safe and have possible benefit.
