Regularly eating fish could lower the risk of developing incurable hearing condition, study finds

Regular meals of fish could lower the risk of developing the incurable hearing condition tinnitus, a study has found.

A team at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston in the US researched 73,000 patients for incidence of the disorder, which leaves millions of Britons with a constant buzzing or ringing noise in their ears.

Over a 30-year period, those who ate more than two servings of fish a week had an almost 25 per cent lower risk of developing tinnitus than those who ate fish rarely or never. 

Patients eating one portion of fish a week had a 13 per cent lower risk.

Tuna, light-meat fish such as cod or halibut and shellfish were all associated with lower tinnitus risk – but dark-meat fish like salmon and swordfish appeared to increase the tinnitus danger.

Tuna, light-meat fish such as cod or halibut and shellfish were all associated with lower tinnitus risk (Stock image)

Fish oil supplements – commonly taken for their heart, brain and joint health properties – were also associated with a higher tinnitus risk.

Tinnitus is believed to affect nearly 15 per cent of British adults.

Though linked to age-related hearing loss, an ear injury or circulation issues, the cause of tinnitus is still not understood.

Previous studies have connected diet and tinnitus risk – with high intakes of calcium, iron and fat believed to increase the danger – but the new study is the first to provide data over such a breadth of time.

Seafood has also previously been shown to lower the risk of hearing loss, with a study published last year claiming that eating more fish can reduce the risk of developing hearing problems by up to 20 per cent.

Scientists believe omega-3 fatty acids found in fish may help protect the health of cells in the inner ear – or alleviate inflammatory responses to loud noises, chemicals or infections.

The Boston hospital research team, whose study was based on a database of female nurses in the US, hopes that identifying a link between fish and tinnitus could help future sufferers.

‘Identifying modifiable factors that influence risk of persistent tinnitus could aid in prevention and inform targeted treatment,’ wrote the study’s authors.