You may know how important it is to have iron in your diet for overall health, but a recent study showed a connection between a lack of iron and hearing health. The study followed 305,339 adults between the ages of 21 and 90 and found those with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) are twice as likely to have hearing loss than those without the blood disorder. The study, conducted by Kathleen Schieffer and colleagues at the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, was published in the December 29, 2016 online issue of JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

“An association exists between IDA and hearing loss,” the authors of the study write. “The next steps are to better understand this correlation and whether promptly diagnosing and treating IDA may positively affect the overall health status of adults with hearing loss.” Just as diet and exercise impact weight, heart function and hearing health, insufficient iron levels can also impact your health. Low levels may result in anemia, a condition in which red blood cells lack the hemoglobin necessary to carry sufficient amounts of oxygen throughout the body.

Although IDA is very treatable, don’t stock up on iron supplements just yet to improve your hearing. The study authors emphasize further research is needed to understand the link iron plays in protecting our sense of hearing before supplementation can be used as a treatment plan for hearing loss.

Content provided by HealthyHearing