| Literature DB >> 26464097 |
Nobutaka Ohgami1,2,3, Yuji Mitsumatsu1, Nazmul Ahsan4, Anwarul Azim Akhand4, Xiang Li1, Machiko Iida1,2,3, Ichiro Yajima1,3, Mariko Naito5, Kenji Wakai5, Shoko Ohnuma3, Masashi Kato1,3.
Abstract
Our previous study experimentally showed barium (Ba)-mediated hearing loss in mice. To our knowledge, however, it remains unknown whether Ba affects hearing in humans. This epidemiological study aimed at investigating ototoxicity of Ba in humans. Associations of Ba levels in hair, toenails and urine with hearing levels (1, 4, 8 and 12 kHz) were analyzed in 145 Bangladeshi subjects. Binary logistic regression analysis with adjustment for age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and smoking showed that Ba levels in hair had significant associations with hearing loss at 8 kHz (OR=4.75; 95% CI: 1.44, 17.68) and 12 kHz (OR=15.48; 95% CI: 4.04, 79.45). Ba levels in toenails were also associated with hearing loss at 8 kHz (OR=3.20; 95% CI: 1.35, 7.85) and 12 kHz (OR=3.63; 95% CI: 1.58, 8.55), whereas there was no correlation between Ba level in urinary samples and hearing. There was a significant correlation between hearing loss and Ba levels in hair and toenails in the model adjusted with arsenic levels as the confounder. In conclusion, this study suggested that Ba levels could be a new risk factor for hearing loss, especially at high frequencies of 8 and 12 kHz, in humans.Entities:
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Year: 2015 PMID： 26464097 DOI： 10.1038/jes.2015.62
Source DB: PubMed Journal: J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol ISSN： 1559-0631 Impact factor: 5.563