Washington DC [USA], Jul 24 (ANI): A new population-based study has found that blood levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid, are closely related to hearing problems. High DHA levels among the elderly and elderly are 8-20% less likely to predict age-related hearing loss than low DHA levels. “High levels of DHA have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, cognitive impairment and death. Our study extends these findings to suggest a role for DHA in maintaining hearing function and helping to reduce the risk of age-related hearing loss," said Michael I. McBurney, PhD, Principal Investigator at the Fatty Acid Research Institute and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Human Health and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Guelph and the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. McBurney, a member of the American Society for Nutrition and the Canadian Nutrition Society, will present the findings at NUTRITION 2023, the annual flagship meeting of the American Society for Nutrition being held July 22-25 in Boston. Using data from the UK Biobank, the researchers analyzed self-reported hearing and blood DHA levels of more than 100,000 people aged 40-69 in the UK. After controlling for possible confounding variables, the results showed that people in the highest quintile (one fifth of the participants) of blood DHA levels were 16% more likely to answer yes to the question "do you have difficulty hearing" compared to those in the lowest DHA quintile. Similarly, people in the highest quintile for DHA levels were 11% more likely to answer yes to the question "do you have difficulty following conversations when there is background noise" compared to those in the lowest quintile for DHA levels. Although the results show a significant connection between DHA levels and hearing, McBurney cautioned that cross-sectional studies do not provide enough evidence to clearly conclude that DHA maintains hearing function or that insufficient DHA levels contribute to hearing loss. However, the findings add to the growing evidence on the importance of omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA in particular, for maintaining health and helping to protect against age-related depression and various body functions. Omega-3s can help protect the health of inner ear cells or reduce the inflammatory response to excessive noise, chemicals, or disease. Previous studies in older adults and animals have also suggested that higher levels of omega-3s are inversely related to age-related hearing loss and may protect against it. Our body has a limited ability to produce DHA, so the amount of DHA present in our blood and tissues is largely dependent on our omega-3 intake. DHA levels can be increased by eating regular seafood or taking supplements. "There is strong evidence that high levels of omega-3 fatty acids are beneficial," McBurney said. “Fatty fish and omega-3 supplements are a good source of nutrition. If you choose to use a dietary supplement, compare products by reading the supplement facts for Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) + DHA content.  It is estimated that about 20 percent of people, or more than 1.5 billion people worldwide, have hearing loss, and this number is expected to increase as the population grows in the coming decades. Hearing loss can vary from mild to profound; it affects communication and social relations, educational opportunities and employment, and many other aspects of daily life. Environmental factors as well as genetic and drug tendencies contribute to hearing loss. Proven ways to reduce the risk of hearing loss include protecting the ears from loud noises by using protective equipment and getting proper medical care for illnesses. (ANI)