Researchers studied over 1,600 older adults to see if eating foods rich in important nutrients could help protect their hearing. They found that people who ate adequate amounts of 10 key nutrients—including calcium, magnesium, zinc, and vitamins A, C, D, and E—had significantly better hearing than those who didn’t get enough of these nutrients. The study suggests that paying attention to your diet and making sure you’re getting enough of these essential nutrients might be a simple way to help keep your hearing sharp as you get older.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether eating enough of 10 important nutrients (like calcium, zinc, and vitamins) is connected to better hearing in older adults
  • Who participated: 1,608 adults aged 65 and older living in their own homes, about half men and half women, with an average age of 74 years
  • Key finding: People who ate the most adequate amounts of these 10 nutrients had about 40% less hearing loss compared to those who ate the least, across all sound frequencies tested
  • What it means for you: Eating a diet rich in specific nutrients may help protect your hearing as you age, though this study shows a connection rather than proving that nutrients directly prevent hearing loss. Talk to your doctor about whether your diet includes enough of these key nutrients.

The Research Details

This study looked at information collected from 1,608 older adults who were already part of a larger health study called Seniors-ENRICA-2. Researchers asked participants detailed questions about everything they ate and drank, then calculated how much of 10 important nutrients they were getting compared to recommended amounts. They also tested each person’s hearing using standard hearing tests that measure how well they can hear sounds at different pitches.

The researchers then looked for connections between how well people’s diets met nutrient recommendations and their hearing test results. They adjusted their analysis to account for other factors that might affect hearing, like age, smoking, exercise habits, and existing health conditions. This approach helps them understand whether the nutrient connection is real or just due to other factors.

This research approach is important because hearing loss is very common in older adults but we don’t fully understand all the ways to prevent it. By looking at real people’s actual eating habits and hearing health, researchers can discover whether everyday nutrition choices might protect hearing. This type of study is good for finding connections, though it can’t prove that nutrients directly cause better hearing.

This study has several strengths: it included a large number of participants, used validated methods to measure both diet and hearing, and carefully adjusted for many other factors that could affect results. However, because it’s a snapshot in time rather than following people over years, we can’t be completely certain that better nutrition causes better hearing—only that they’re connected. The study was published in a respected scientific journal focused on aging research.

What the Results Show

People who had the highest dietary micronutrient adequacy scores had significantly better hearing than those with the lowest scores. Specifically, those in the top third for nutrient intake had about 43% lower odds of hearing loss at standard frequencies, 42% lower odds at speech frequencies (the sounds we use for talking), and 31% lower odds at high frequencies.

Out of the 1,608 participants, about 13% had hearing loss at speech frequencies. The protective effect of good nutrition was consistent across all the different sound frequencies tested—from low sounds to very high sounds. This suggests that adequate nutrition may help protect hearing broadly, not just for specific types of sounds.

The researchers looked at whether the nutrient connection worked differently for different groups of people. They checked whether results differed based on sex, body weight, how much people exercised, and whether people had chronic diseases like diabetes or heart disease. Interestingly, the protective effect of good nutrition appeared to work similarly for all these different groups, suggesting that eating adequate nutrients may help protect hearing for most older adults.

Previous research has suggested that individual nutrients like zinc, magnesium, and folate might help with hearing health, but this is one of the first studies to look at overall dietary nutrient adequacy as a combined measure. The findings support earlier research on individual nutrients while suggesting that getting a balanced mix of multiple nutrients together may be particularly important. This aligns with the general nutrition principle that eating a variety of nutrient-rich foods is better than focusing on single nutrients.

This study shows a connection between nutrition and hearing but cannot prove that better nutrition directly causes better hearing—other unmeasured factors could be involved. The study captured diet at only one point in time, so we don’t know if people’s eating habits stayed the same over time. Additionally, the study included mostly older adults in one region, so results might not apply to younger people or different populations. Finally, hearing loss can have many causes, and this study couldn’t account for all of them.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, older adults should aim to eat adequate amounts of calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iodine, and vitamins A, C, D, E, and folate. This can be achieved through a balanced diet including dairy products, leafy greens, nuts, seeds, fish, and colorful vegetables. Confidence level: Moderate—this study suggests a helpful connection, but more research is needed to confirm that improving nutrition directly prevents hearing loss.

This research is most relevant for adults aged 65 and older who are concerned about hearing health or who have noticed changes in their hearing. It may also interest younger adults who want to protect their hearing as they age. People with existing hearing loss should discuss these findings with their doctor or audiologist. This is not a substitute for medical treatment of hearing loss.

If you improve your diet to include more of these nutrients, you wouldn’t expect immediate changes to your hearing. Hearing loss develops over years, so any protective benefits would likely take months to years to become noticeable. The best approach is to maintain good nutrition consistently over time as part of overall healthy aging.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily intake of the 10 key nutrients: calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, iodine, and vitamins A, C, D, E, and folate. Set a goal to meet 100% of recommended daily amounts for each nutrient and log foods that provide these nutrients.
  • Add one nutrient-rich food to each meal: for example, add spinach to breakfast, almonds to lunch, and salmon to dinner. Use the app to identify which nutrients you’re missing and find easy foods to add to your diet to fill those gaps.
  • Weekly review of nutrient adequacy scores to ensure you’re consistently meeting recommendations across all 10 nutrients. Track any changes in hearing or ear-related symptoms over months and discuss trends with your healthcare provider during regular check-ups.

This research shows a connection between nutrient intake and hearing health but does not prove that improving nutrition will prevent or treat hearing loss. Hearing loss has many causes and requires professional evaluation. If you experience hearing changes, consult an audiologist or ear, nose, and throat specialist for proper diagnosis and treatment. Do not use dietary changes as a substitute for medical care. Always discuss significant dietary changes with your healthcare provider, especially if you take medications or have existing health conditions.