|
Name of treatment |
Zinc |
| Type of treatment | Dietary supplement |
| Claims for treatment |
Zinc may modulate glutaminergic receptors in the central auditory pathway, resulting in a suppression of tinnitus. |
| How treatment is delivered | Orally |
| Potential negative consequences |
Mild gastric complaints [1] |
Evidence offered: |
|
| Papers available | 3 (as listed in the Cochrane review [2] |
| Conclusions drawn | Although no severe adverse effects were observed, there is no evidence that zinc may reduce tinnitus distress or loudness.[2] |
| Quality of evidence [3] |
A |
| Does the BTA recommend this treatment? | No |
| BTA opinion on this treatment |
The evidence levels for zinc supplementation treating tinnitus are low. “Dietary supplements should not be recommended to treat tinnitus but could have a positive outcome on tinnitus reactions in some people”[4] |
| Would the BTA support further studies into this treatment? | Yes, if a high-quality study |
| Verdict: Safety – is this treatment harmful? |
|
|
Verdict: Efficacy – does this treatment work? |
|
[1] https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-982/zinc (last accessed 13 March 2019)
[2] Person OC, Puga MES, da Silva EMK, Torloni MR. Zinc supplements for tinnitus. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016, Issue 11. Art. No.: CD009832. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009832.pub2.
[3] A = Systematic review/meta-analysis. B = Randomised control studies. C = Cohort studies. D = Case-control studies. E = case studies/reports. +/- to be used to indicate quality within bands
[4] Coelho C, Tyler R, Ji H, Rojas-Roncancio E, Witt S, Tao P, Jun HJ, Wang TC, Hansen MR, Gantz BJ. Survey on the Effectiveness of Dietary Supplements to Treat Tinnitus. American Journal of Audiology, 2016: 25(3): 184-205
Download this information:
Tinnitus_and_zinc_April_2019.pdf
Updated 15 April 2019
