Condition
    Preliminary
    Effectiveness 2/5

    Zinc for Tinnitus

    Zinc only plausibly helps the small minority with confirmed deficiency, and trials in unselected tinnitus patients have been negative.

    Overview

    Zinc only plausibly helps the small minority with confirmed deficiency, and trials in unselected tinnitus patients have been negative.

    Verdict

    Insufficient evidence

    Insufficient evidence. No benefit in unselected patients; possible role only in documented deficiency.

    How It Works

    Zinc is present at high concentration in the cochlea and contributes to synaptic transmission and antioxidant defence, which motivated the hypothesis that deficiency contributes to tinnitus.

    Dosing & Protocol

    Typical dose

    Recommended dose
    Only if deficiency is confirmed; 15-30mg daily short term
    Expected timeframe
    8-12 weeks if correcting a documented deficiency

    Protocol

    form
    Not applicable
    duration
    Not applicable
    co factor
    Evidence is insufficient. Zinc for tinnitus has been tested repeatedly at 50-90 mg elemental zinc daily for two to four months, on the rationale that zinc is concentrated in the cochlea and involved in auditory neurotransmission and that levels fall with age. The Cochrane review of these trials concluded there is no evidence of benefit for adults with tinnitus - the studies were small, results inconsistent, and any signal confined to participants who were zinc deficient at baseline.
    titration
    Not applicable
    starting dose
    Not applicable as an established treatment

    Evidence

    What the studies say

    Several small randomised trials tested zinc in tinnitus with mixed and mostly negative results, and Cochrane concluded there is no evidence that zinc improves tinnitus in unselected adults. The studies reporting benefit tended to enrol older adults with low baseline serum zinc, consistent with deficiency correction rather than a treatment effect on tinnitus itself. Serum zinc is a poor marker of body status, further complicating interpretation. Prolonged supplementation above 40mg daily induces copper deficiency, which can itself cause neurological problems — a meaningful downside for an intervention with no demonstrated benefit.

    Zinc supplementation for tinnitus

    Score: 9/10
    2016
    systematic_review
    n=209

    Person OC, Puga ME, da Silva EM +1 more

    We found no evidence that the use of oral zinc supplementation improves symptoms in adults with tinnitus.

    View source

    Safety

    Caveats

    Doses above 40mg daily long term cause copper deficiency and anaemia. Zinc reduces absorption of some antibiotics; separate by two hours.

    Less likely to help if

    Anyone with normal zinc status, which is the large majority of people with tinnitus.

    Medical Disclaimer

    The information provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or before starting any supplement regimen.

    Individual results may vary. The statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products and information are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.