The role of magnesium in the susceptibility of soldiers to noise-induced hearing loss

A number of studies have demonstrated that magnesium, administered prophyla ctically, can reduce the amount of hearing loss resulting from noise exposu re. This study explored the possible role of naturally occurring body magne sium concentration in susceptibility of soldiers to noise-induced hearing l oss. Participants were 68 adult males who had received extensive noise expo sure over several years as a result of training with weapon systems. Each p articipant provided a pure-tone audiogram, blood sample, and noise-exposure history. A variety of pure-tone indices was correlated with serum magnesiu m levels as determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. No significant co rrelations were observed between any audiometric index and body magnesium. The results of this study, therefore, do not support the hypothesis that th ere is a strong association between naturally occurring body magnesium and susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss. [S0001-4966(00)02507-8].