The role of folic acid and omega-3 fatty acids in the interplay between nutrition and hearing loss

Póster presentado al Cell Symposium: Aging and Metabolism, celebrado en Sitges (España) del 10 al 12 de julio de 2016.Hearing loss (HL) affects 360 million people worldwide, its incidence increasing with age. Epidemiological studies have shown a correlation between increased plasma homocysteine (Hcy) and deafness and suggested that nutritional supplementation may be beneficial (i.e. folic acid and omega-3). Here, we present results on mouse models showing that a nutritional deficiency of folate accelerates development of HL according to ABR in C57BL/6J and CBA/J strains. C57BL/6J cochleae showed severe histological damage, together with impaired Hcy metabolism and signs of oxidative stress as determined by RTqPCR, protein and metabolite levels. Long-term omega-3 supplemented diets demonstrated a beneficial effect on inflammatory parameters and Hcy metabolism. All this work pointed toward a role of cochlear Hcy remethylation as target both of damage and prevention, suggesting that the genetic background is the factor that determines the onset of HL, folate deficiency adding to this main trigger.FP7-AFHELO, FP7-TARGEAR, SAF2014-53979-R and LACTALIS-Puleva (Spain).Peer Reviewe