While no vitamin is a proven cure, Vitamin B12 and Vitamin D deficiencies are linked to tinnitus, with supplements potentially helping if you're deficient, while minerals like Zinc, Magnesium, and herbs like Ginkgo Biloba are commonly used but often ineffective, requiring a doctor's advice before trying any supplement due to mixed results and lack of FDA approval.
Vitamin D plays a key role in regulating calcium levels, which is essential for proper inner ear function. It also helps protect the hearing nerve, supports neurotransmitter stability, and reduces inflammation—all of which contribute to a healthier auditory system and may reduce tinnitus severity.
A total of 17 were revealed to be B12 deficient when compared to a normal level of 250 pg/ml. With 42.5% of the patients, this is a significantly high prevalence. After six weeks, the results showed that patients in Group A saw improvements in their mean tinnitus severity index scores.
Their findings, which were published in the American Journal of Otolaryngology, revealed that tinnitus is linked to vitamin B12 deficiency. Researchers also say that patients suffering from this condition improved after vitamin B12 supplemental therapy was introduced.
Sound aids, such as sound balls, sound bars or sound pillows, can be used to produce relaxing sounds that reduce or even eliminate annoying noises associated with tinnitus. These aids generate sounds that create a pleasant feeling of relaxation, such as white noise, which can help alleviate tinnitus during pregnancy.
Er Long Zuo Ci Pill (耳聾左慈丸 in Chinese), a traditionally well-known formula, is widely used to treat tinnitus and deafness in China. It was found to be one of the most often used formulae to treat tinnitus in the recent 30 years (Zhang et al., 2015).
Tinnitus, which often results from an insult to the peripheral auditory system, is associated with changes in structure and function of many brain regions. These include multiple levels of the auditory system as well as regions of the limbic system associated with memory and emotions.
Ginkgo biloba, sometimes used to treat tinnitus, can ironically worsen the condition in some individuals. Caffeine-containing supplements, like guarana or green tea extract, may exacerbate symptoms in sensitive people. Niacin (vitamin B3), particularly in doses above 100mg, can cause flushing and tinnitus.
Possible symptoms include:
It has been suggested in some studies that vitamin B12 deficiency is a potential cause of tinnitus. Low levels of folate and vitamin B12 could lead to the damage of small blood vessels going to the cochlea (part of the inner ear that translates sound to nerve impulses that are sent to the brain).
The worst symptoms of B12 deficiency involve severe nerve damage and cognitive issues, including tingling/numbness in hands and feet, trouble walking, memory loss, confusion, depression, and even dementia in severe, untreated cases, alongside severe fatigue, pale skin, and heart palpitations from anemia. These neurological and mental problems can become irreversible if the deficiency isn't treated promptly.
Here are seven at-home remedies that may help your tinnitus symptoms.
Researchers have found that patients asked about the severity of their tinnitus reported improvements in symptoms after taking 532 milligrams of magnesium daily for three months under medical supervision. Patients treated with magnesium also reported hearing improvements.
In Japan, Yoku-kan-san, a TCM herbal formula, was found to cure tinnitus in 2 weeks on a patient enduring such a problem for 3 years (Okamoto et al., 2005).
Currently, there is no recommended dosage of vitamin B12 for tinnitus specifically. However a safe dosage of vitamin B12 is 1000mcg per day of the methylcobalamin form.
Some people experience tinnitus with vitamin D intake due to potential changes in calcium metabolism or fluctuations in neurotransmitter levels, which may affect auditory pathways. Individual responses can vary, so consulting a healthcare provider is advisable.
The foods highest in vitamin D are fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna) and fish liver oils (like cod liver oil), with egg yolks, beef liver, and UV-exposed mushrooms also containing significant amounts, but most people get vitamin D from fortified foods like milk, cereals, and juices.
Yes, you can do a vitamin D test at home using simple finger-prick kits (like TouchBio, 2San, We Test Bio) that provide quick, preliminary results (often in 10 mins) by analyzing a drop of blood to check if levels are sufficient, insufficient, or deficient, helping you monitor bone health and immune support, but you should always discuss abnormal results with a doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
Taking too much vitamin D leads to calcium buildup (hypercalcemia), causing physical signs like nausea/vomiting, fatigue/weakness, frequent urination & excessive thirst, constipation, and confusion/disorientation, alongside potential bone pain or kidney stones, often from supplements, not sun exposure.
But an array of other factors can trigger or worsen the condition as well. These include exposure to loud noises; medications, especially certain antibiotics; ear infections; injuries such as whiplash or concussion; and high blood pressure.
Avoiding Food Triggers for Tinnitus
Natural home remedies for tinnitus
The various treatment options in homeopathy include: Lavender oil: The relaxing effects of lavender oil can help relieve stress and thus reduce tinnitus. Turmeric: Turmeric can help reduce inflammation. Turmeric can help with inflammation-related tinnitus.
Tinnitus retraining therapy.
This method also uses a masking device. But it's done at a lower intensity than tinnitus. This can help the brain filter out (habituate to) the sound. Cognitive behavioral therapy is included to help treat the person's emotional reaction to tinnitus.
The team found that people with chronic tinnitus were much more likely to have reduced responses to sound in their cochlear nerve compared with people in the other two groups. This nerve, which is also called the auditory nerve, carries sound information from the sensory hair cells to the brain.
Characterized by ear ringing, buzzing, or other noises in the ears, tinnitus can impact quality of life. Tinnitus has been linked to mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. Can you break the cycle of tinnitus and problems with mood? What follows here is information on tinnitus and how to manage it.