A new study suggests your diet could have a significant effect on the "incredibly distressing" condition
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Tinnitus is believed to affect one in seven people
Tinnitus is believed to affect one in seven people(Image: Getty Images)
New research has revealed eating a diet rich in certain foods, and one surprising ingredient, could slash the risk of tinnitus, a condition that can have a profound impact on a person's quality of life.
Tinnitus is the name for hearing noises that do not come from an outside source, which are typically ringing, buzzing, whooshing, or humming sounds, according to the NHS. Experts at the hearing loss charity RNID have described the condition, which is believed to affect one in seven adults, as "incredibly distressing for some people".
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According to a new study, eating a diet rich in fruit, fibre, dairy, and caffeine could lower the risk of suffering from tinnitus.
A team of scientists in China reviewed eight observational studies with a total of more than 300,000 participants to look for foods which could be linked to the condition. The team found "low quality evidence" overall, but their findings suggest that some foods could help to steer away tinnitus symptoms.
The inside of a fridge
Everyday foods could help to reduce the risk of tinnitus, new research suggests
(Image: PA )
The researchers found that caffeine, fruit, dietary fibre and dairy products “were negatively associated with the incidence of tinnitus; that is, the higher the intake of caffeine, fruit, dietary fibre, and dairy products, the lower the prevalence of tinnitus”, the authors concluded in the study.
The study noted a 35 per cent drop in the risk of tinnitus for fruit intake, 17 per cent for dairy, 10 per cent for caffeine and nine per cent for fibre.
Surprisingly, the findings suggest that caffeine could help with tinnitus, whereas previous studies have noted the opposite.
“Our findings indicate that caffeine has a positive effect on tinnitus incidence,” the researchers wrote. "Some suggest that caffeine might effectively decrease tinnitus incidence, possibly because of its anxiety-reducing effects. Conversely, some scholars argue that individuals with tinnitus often experience insomnia, in which caffeine consumption could worsen, thus exacerbating tinnitus.”
A mug of flat white coffee on a wooden background.
The study found that caffeine could have a surprising effect on tinnitus symptoms
(Image: Getty Images)
It is important to note that the review looked at observational studies, so the study cannot say for certain whether these foods directly affect tinnitus. Instead, the study simply noted a link between them. That said, the findings highlight an important link between diet and tinnitus.
The authors wrote: “Evidence suggests that consuming fruit, dietary fibre, caffeine and dairy may be associated with a reduced incidence of tinnitus. The primary underlying mechanisms may involve the protective effects of these diets on blood vessels and nerves, as well as their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
“It is crucial to interpret our findings cautiously because of the overall low quality of the evidence available.”
Ralph Holme, director of research at the charity RNID, said: “Tinnitus affects one in seven adults and can be incredibly distressing for some people. Whilst we always welcome any new research to understand more about tinnitus, these results should be treated with caution as they do not tell us anything about causality i.e. these factors may simply be coincidental.
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“However, any new insights are always valuable and could lead to more research into this area helping us better understand tinnitus in the future. In the meantime, if anyone is seeking help with their tinnitus, they can contact RNID for further information and support.”
The study was published in the journal BMJ Open.