Abstract
This review aims to provide a conceptual and theoretical overview of the association between gut dysbiosis and hearing loss. Hearing loss is a global health issue; the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 2.5 billion people will be living with some degree of hearing loss by 2050. The aetiology of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is complex and multifactorial, arising from congenital and acquired causes. Recent evidence suggests that impaired gut health may also be a risk factor for SNHL. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), type 2 diabetes, diet-induced obesity (DIO), and high-fat diet (HFD) all show links to hearing loss. Previous studies have shown that a HFD can result in microangiopathy, impaired insulin signalling, and oxidative stress in the inner ear. A HFD can also induce pathological shifts in gut microbiota and affect intestinal barrier (IB) integrity, leading to a leaky gut. A leaky gut can result in chronic systemic inflammation, which may affect extraintestinal organs. Here, we postulate that changes in gut microbiota resulting from a chronic HFD and DIO may cause a systemic inflammatory response that can compromise the permeability of the blood–labyrinth barrier (BLB) in the inner ear, thus inducing cochlear inflammation and hearing deficits.
Highlights
Hearing is essential for quality of life, cognitive and socioemotional development, and general health at all stages of life
More than 1.5 billion people will experience some decline in hearing ability during their lifetime, of whom at least 430 million will be affected by disabling hearing loss
If not identified and addressed in a timely way, hearing loss can severely reduce the quality of life at various stages of life by delaying language development, reducing social engagement, and compromising economic independence and educational opportunities
Summary
Hearing is essential for quality of life, cognitive and socioemotional development, and general health at all stages of life. A diet high in cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of developing sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) [12,13]. As obesity continues to be a significant public health issue worldwide, further studies are necessary to establish whether early interventions and lifestyle changes could reduce the risk of hearing loss. Based on clinical cases and animal studies, this review discusses the association between gut health and inner ear function and the link between gut dysbiosis and SNHL. Following Boolean search logic, the main keywords included: (hearing loss OR SNHL OR sensorineural hearing loss OR cochlea OR microangiopathy) and (diet OR obesity OR diabetes OR diet-induced obesity OR inflammation) and
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