From the Guidelines
There is no specific medicine or mineral that has been proven to prevent tinnitus. While some supplements like magnesium, zinc, and vitamin B12 have been studied for tinnitus management, scientific evidence for their preventive effects remains limited 1. Instead, prevention focuses on avoiding known risk factors:
- protecting your ears from loud noise exposure by using earplugs or noise-canceling headphones,
- keeping music volume moderate,
- taking breaks from noise, and
- maintaining overall health through proper management of conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes. Some medications like certain antibiotics, NSAIDs, and chemotherapy drugs can cause or worsen tinnitus, so discussing medication risks with your healthcare provider is important 1. Regular hearing check-ups can help detect early hearing changes before tinnitus develops. These preventive measures work by protecting the delicate hair cells in your inner ear from damage, as their injury is a common cause of tinnitus.
Key Considerations
- The use of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is recommended for patients with persistent, bothersome tinnitus, as it has shown a preponderance of benefit over harm 1.
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is not recommended for the routine treatment of patients with persistent, bothersome tinnitus due to inconclusive RCTs 1.
- Dietary supplements, including nutritional and herbal supplements, are not recommended due to the lack of regulation and varying amounts of active agents, due to a preponderance of harm over benefit 1.
From the Research
Medicines and Minerals for Tinnitus Prevention
There are several studies that have investigated the effectiveness of various medicines and minerals in preventing or treating tinnitus. Some of the key findings include:
- A study published in the American Journal of Audiology in 2016 found that dietary supplements such as melatonin, lipoflavonoid, and Ginkgo biloba may be helpful in improving sleep, emotional reactions, and hearing in patients with tinnitus, but the evidence is not strong enough to recommend their use as a treatment for tinnitus 2.
- A Cochrane review published in 2016 found that zinc supplementation did not improve symptoms in adults with tinnitus, and the quality of the evidence was very low 3.
- A study published in Progress in Brain Research in 2007 found that the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) products, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal remedies, is popular among individuals with tinnitus, but the evidence regarding their efficacy is scarce and their potential toxic effects are often underestimated 4.
- A study published in Magnesium Research in 2006 found that magnesium therapy may be effective in preventing or treating noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus, due to its neuroprotective and vasodilatory effects 5.
- A randomized controlled trial published in Otology & Neurotology in 2013 found that zinc supplementation did not improve tinnitus symptoms in elderly patients, and the difference between the zinc and placebo groups was not statistically significant 6.
Key Findings
Some of the key findings from these studies include:
- Melatonin, lipoflavonoid, and Ginkgo biloba may be helpful in improving sleep, emotional reactions, and hearing in patients with tinnitus, but the evidence is not strong enough to recommend their use as a treatment for tinnitus.
- Zinc supplementation did not improve symptoms in adults with tinnitus, and the quality of the evidence was very low.
- Magnesium therapy may be effective in preventing or treating noise-induced hearing loss and tinnitus.
- The use of CAM products, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal remedies, is popular among individuals with tinnitus, but the evidence regarding their efficacy is scarce and their potential toxic effects are often underestimated.
Minerals and Tinnitus
Some minerals that have been studied for their potential role in preventing or treating tinnitus include: