Diet quality and hearing loss among middle–older aged adults in the USA: findings from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between overall diet quality and hearing function among middle-older aged adults in the USA. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis. Diet quality was examined using the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS), using data from a single 24 h dietary recall. Hearing function was objectively measured by audiometry assessments and hearing loss, including high- and low-frequency hearing loss, was defined as pure-tone averages at specific ranges of hearing frequencies >25 dB. Weighted logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the associations of MDS (scored 0-9, categorized at the median as 3) with hearing loss and high- and low-frequency hearing loss. SETTING: National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys 2000-2006 and 2009-2012. PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged >/=50 years (n 1639) with valid dietary and audiometry assessments. RESULTS: After adjusting for potential confounders, a non-significant trend for a protective association of higher MDS was observed for hearing loss (OR = 0.78; 95 % CI 0.49, 1.23). A significant inverse association was observed for high-frequency hearing loss (OR = 0.64; 95 % CI 0.43, 0.95). No association was found for low-frequency hearing loss among women; however, higher MDS was significantly associated with higher odds of low-frequency hearing loss among men (OR = 2.63; 95 % CI 1.39, 4.95). CONCLUSIONS: Among middle-older aged adults, adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet was inversely associated with hearing loss, including those at high hearing frequencies, among older adults. However, a detrimental association was observed at low hearing frequencies among men. Future investigations with a longitudinal design are needed to clarify the associations between diet quality and hearing loss.