Background Hearing loss (HL) has been suggested to be associated with impaired microcirculation of the inner ear. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate an association between HL and serum lipid levels.
Methods The study comprised 10,356 Korean adults who participated in the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010–2012). We defined HL as the average hearing thresholds exceeding 25 dB at predetermined frequency levels by pure tone audiometry. Serum lipid levels were measured using an enzymatic assay. The associations between lipid levels and HL were evaluated using a multiple logistic regression model after adjusting for covariates including age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, smoking status, alcohol, physical activity, educational level, household income, and noise exposure. Stratified analyses were performed to examine the effect of the covariates on the association between lipid levels and HL.
Results The high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level was inversely associated with high-frequency (HF)-HL, with an odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 0.78 (0.64–0.96) for 1-mmol/L increase in the HDL-C level. Neither the triglyceride nor the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level was associated with HF-HL. For low-frequency HL, association with any of the serum lipid components was absent. A stratified analysis showed that the inverse association between HDL-C levels and HF-HL was evident (P trend <0.05) in some subjects with specific characteristics such as older age (≥65 years), female sex, non-hypertensive state, and non-regular physical activity. However, a significant interaction between HDL-C levels and all of the stratified variables was absent (P for interaction >0.05).
Conclusion The HDL-C level has a linear inverse association with the risk of HF-HL. Given the known protective role of HDL-C against atherosclerotic changes, this finding seems to support the concept of impaired microcirculation in the inner ear as a mechanism for HF-HL.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Cardiovascular Diseases and Sensorineural Hearing Loss—A Systematic Review of the Literature Anna N. Berezovsky, Mana Espahbodi, Samantha L. LaPrade, David R. Friedland, Michael S. Harris Otology & Neurotology.2025; 46(1): 23. CrossRef
Which factors influence the deterioration in vestibular function? A nationwide, population-based study with video-head impulse test Jeon Mi Lee, Sung Goo Yoo, Hyun Jin Lee Journal of Vestibular Research.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Association between the Healthy Eating Index 2015 and hearing loss among American adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Juan Jiang, WanLei Chi The Journal of Laryngology & Otology.2025; 139(9): 874. CrossRef
Association between HEI-2015 and hearing loss among American adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Juan Jiang, WanLei Chi The Journal of Laryngology & Otology.2025; 139(9): 881. CrossRef
Triglyceride to High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio and Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Community-Dwelling Adults: an NHANES Analysis Yang Yu, Zhi-Chao Yang, Li-Xin Wang Yonsei Medical Journal.2024; 65(12): 741. CrossRef
Association between Hyperuricemia and Hearing Impairment: Results from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Hyemin Jeong, Young-Soo Chang, Chan-Hong Jeon Medicina.2023; 59(7): 1273. CrossRef
Background Dietary supplements (DS) use is known to be common among cancer survivors. However, detailed information on the factors influencing DS use seems insufficient, including cancer-related and psychological factors.
Methods Study subjects were 1,852 Korean adult cancer survivors recruited from cancer survivor clinic of two university-affiliated hospitals. Data were collected retrospectively through review of medical records and self-administered questionnaires. Psychological factors were assessed using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Fear of Cancer Recurrence Inventory-Short Form. Factors associated the DS use were evaluated by multiple logistic regression analysis after adjusting for covariates.
Results The prevalence of long-term DS use was 15.7% in overall (17.5% in female and 11.6% in male). Female survivors were 3.14 times (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.89–5.22) more likely to use DS than male. In male cancer survivors, ever-smoking and previous radiotherapy were positively associated with DS use. In females, breast cancer survivors were 0.32 times less likely to use DS compared with stomach cancer survivors, and survivors with family history of cancer were 1.39 times more likely to use DS than those without. After adjusting for sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors, survivors with anxiety (HADS ≥8) used DS 1.38 times (95% CI, 1.01–1.91) more frequently, compared with those without anxiety.
Conclusion Diverse factors such as female sex, cancer treatment modality, smoking history, family history and anxiety status were associated with DS use in Korean cancer survivors. Targeted strategies with consideration of these factors are needed for counseling DS use for cancer survivors.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
Exploring men’s cancer journeys in Norway: a comprehensive survey on diet, supplements, and use of complementary and alternative therapies Agnete E. Kristoffersen, Kiwumulo Nakandi, Arne Johan Norheim, Mona Bjelland, Jorunn V. Nilsen, Eran Ben-Arye BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies.2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Regulatory systems and scientific evidence for health functional foods in Korea Seung-Won Oh Journal of the Korean Medical Association.2025; 68(5): 311. CrossRef
Supplement use and its impact on daily life of cancer patients: a cross-sectional study Youssef El Toum, Tarek Costa, Elissa El Toum, Tina Haddad, Pascale Salameh, Fady El karak, Marwan Ghosn, Fady Nasr, Georges Chahine, Joseph Kattan, Hampig Raphael Kourie Supportive Care in Cancer.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Factors Associated with Long-Term Dietary Supplement Use among Korean Breast Cancer Survivors: A Cross-Sectional Study Seonghye Kim, Yohwan Yeo, Jinyoung Shin, Dong Wook Shin, Belong Cho, Yun-Mi Song Nutrients.2023; 15(18): 4087. CrossRef
Addressing Patient Requests to Add Dietary Supplements to Their Cancer Care—A Suggested Approach Moshe Frenkel, Meroe B. Morse, Santhosshi Narayanan Nutrients.2023; 15(24): 5029. CrossRef
Differences in the Perception of Dietary Supplements between Dietary Supplement/Medicine Users and Non-Users Tsuyoshi Chiba, Nanae Tanemura Nutrients.2022; 14(19): 4114. CrossRef
The Self-Administered Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Supplements and Antioxidants in Cancer Therapy and the Critical Role of Nrf-2—A Systematic Review Paula Krejbich, Marc Birringer Antioxidants.2022; 11(11): 2149. CrossRef
First
Prev
