A diet high in fruit could be the key to lowering the risk of tinnitus, research suggests.
Experts analysed multiple studies that examined the effect of diet on tinnitus, including one that found an apple a day could reduce the risk of tinnitus.
Some 7.6 million adults in the UK are affected by the condition, known by its symptom of a ringing in the ears that is not caused by any external noise.
For some people, tinnitus can present itself as a buzzing, whooshing or humming sound and can be present in one or both ears, come and go, or be ever present.
It has often been linked with distress, depression, anxiety, stress and, in severe cases, suicide. It has been shown to significantly affect overall quality of life.
But a study, published in the journal BMJ Open, found the more fruit people ate, the lower the chance they had tinnitus.
Researchers in China discovered people with high fruit intake were 35 per cent less likely to develop the condition.
Fruit’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects on blood vessels and nerves have been suggested as the cause.
One of the studies the team looked at found people who ate fewer than 3.6g of fruit fibre per day – the equivalent of one apple – were 65 per cent more likely to have tinnitus.
Eight observational studies were conducted involving 301,533 people that assessed 15 dietary factors using questionnaires.
The findings took account of a range of foods, including carbohydrates, caffeine, eggs, fruits, fibres, fat, meat, protein, sugar, fish, vegetables and dairy.
The combined results suggested “the higher the intake of caffeine, fruit, dietary fibre, and dairy products, the lower the prevalence of tinnitus”.
These reductions were 35 per cent for fruit intake, nine per cent for dietary fibre, 17 per cent for dairy products and 10 per cent for caffeine intake.
The researchers said the study was only observational and the quality of the evidence was low, and admitted the caffeine findings were contentious.
“Our findings indicate that caffeine has a positive effect on tinnitus incidence,” they wrote.
“Some suggest that caffeine might effectively decrease tinnitus incidence, possibly because of its anxiety-reducing effects.
“Conversely, some scholars argue that individuals with tinnitus often experience insomnia, in which caffeine consumption could worsen, thus exacerbating tinnitus.”
They added: “Evidence suggests that consuming fruit, dietary fibre, caffeine and dairy may be associated with a reduced incidence of tinnitus.
“The primary underlying mechanisms may involve the protective effects of these diets on blood vessels and nerves, as well as their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.”
Calling for further studies, they said: “It is crucial to interpret our findings cautiously because of the overall low quality of the evidence available.”
Ralph Holme, the director of research at the charity RNID, said: “Tinnitus affects one in seven adults and can be incredibly distressing for some people.
“Whilst we always welcome any new research to understand more about tinnitus, these results should be treated with caution as they do not tell us anything about causality i.e. these factors may simply be coincidental.
“However, any new insights are always valuable and could lead to more research into this area helping us better understand tinnitus in the future.
“In the meantime, if anyone is seeking help with their tinnitus, they can contact RNID for further information and support.”