Serum Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Case-Control Study

Objectives:We analyzed the relationships between sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and serum levels of fatty acids, total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins (LDLs), and the antioxidant coenzyme Q10.Methods:Forty-three patients with SSNHL and 43 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. The main outcome measures were serum levels of fatty acids, coenzyme Q10, total cholesterol, and LDLs.Results:On univariate logistic regression analysis, high levels of total cholesterol (p < 0.001), LDLs (p = 0.024), behenic acid (p < 0.001), docosahexaenoic acid (p < 0.001), linolenic acid (p = 0.017), and oleic acid (p < 0.001) and low levels of coenzyme Q10 (p < 0.001) and nervonic acid (p < 0.001) were associated with an elevated risk of SSNHL. On multivariate analysis, only hypercholesterolemia (p = 0.15) and low levels of coenzyme Q10 (p = 0.02) and nervonic acid (p = 0.005) were significantly associated with SSNHL.Conclusions:This is the first report of low serum levels of nervonic acid as an independe...