Magnesium concentration and susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss

Abstract

Joachims et al. [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 74, 104–108 (1983)] reported that magnesium (Mg) intake influenced susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL), with noise-exposed rats fed a Mg-deficient diet incurring significantly greater NIHL than animals fed a Mg-rich diet. Subsequently, Joachims et al. [Mag. Bull. 9, 130–131 (1987)] reported a highly significant negative correlation between serum Mg concentration and NIHL in 24 Israeli Air Force pilots who had been frequently exposed to high-level noise. If reliable, these findings have far-reaching implications for predicting susceptibility and preventing NIHL. This study sought to replicate Joachims et al. (1987) results. Sixty-eight U.S. Army soldiers who had been routinely exposed to potentially hazardous military noise over a 10–15 year period provided pure-tone audiograms following a noise-free period of ≳15 h. Blood samples were obtained following a fasting period of 6–12 h. Samples were analyzed via atomic absorption spectrophotometry to determine the concentrations of Mg in serum, mononuclear cells, and erythrocytes. Results revealed no significant correlation between audiometric thresholds and any of the Mg measures. [Work supported by the Department of Clinical Investigation, Walter Reed Army Medical Center.]