Folate Reduces Hearing Loss Risk

Folate (folic acid) is present in leafy vegetables such as spinach, asparagus, turnip greens, and  lettuces; it is also found in dried or fresh beans and peas, fortified cereal products, and sunflower seeds.  Josef Shargorodsky, an otolaryngologist based in Boston, Massachusetts (USA) and colleagues studied data collected on 3,559 men enrolled in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study who experienced hearing loss. The researchers found that men over the age of 60 who consumed a higher intake of folates (via foods and/or dietary supplements) reduced their risk of developing hearing loss by 20%.