Hypothesis: Compounds that upregulate mitochondrial function in an aging mo
del will improve hearing and reduce some of the effects of aging.
Background: Reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) are known products of oxidati
ve metabolism and are continuously generated in vivo. More than 100 human c
linical conditions have been associated with ROM, including atherosclerosis
, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, cancers, heart disease, cerebrovascular a
ccidents, and aging. The ROM are extremely reactive and cause extensive DNA
, cellular, and tissue damage. Specific deletions within the mitochondrial
DNA (mtDNA) occur with increasing frequency in age and presbyacusis. These
deletions are the result of chronic exposure to ROM. When enough mtDNA dama
ge accrues, the cell becomes bioenergetically deficient. This mechanism is
the basis of the mitochondrial clock theory of aging, also known as the mem
brane hypothesis of aging. Nutritional compounds have been identified that
enhance mitochondrial function and reverse several age-related processes. I
t is the purpose of this article to describe the effects of two mitochondri
al metabolites, cc-lipoic acid and acetyl L-carnitine, on the preservation
of age-related hearing loss.
Methods: Twenty-one Fischer rats, aged 24 months, were divided into three g
roups: acetyl-1-camitine, alpha-lipoic acid, and control. The subjects were
orally supplemented with either a placebo or one of the two nutritional co
mpounds for 6 weeks. Auditory brainstem response testing was used to obtain
baseline and posttreatment hearing thresholds. Cochlear, brain, and skelet
al muscle tissues were obtained to assess for mtDNA mutations.
Results: The control group demonstrated an expected age-associated threshol
d deterioration of 3 to 7 dB in the 6-week study. The treated subjects expe
rienced a delay in progression of hearing loss. Acetyl-l-carnitine improved
auditory thresholds during the same time period (p < 0.05). The mtDNA dele
tions associated with aging and presbyacusis were reduced in the treated gr
oups in comparison with controls.
Conclusions: These results indicate that in the proposed decline in mitocho
ndrial function with age, senescence may be delayed by treatment with mitoc
hondrial metabolites. Acetyl-1-carnitine and alpha-lipoic acid reduce age-a
ssociated deterioration in auditory sensitivity and improve cochlear functi
on. This effect appears to be related to the mitochondrial metabolite abili
ty to protect and repair age-induced cochlear mtDNA damage, thereby upregul
ating mitochondrial function and improving energy-producing capabilities.