A Trial of Magnesium Dependent Tinnitus

NCT ID: NCT01273883

Last Updated: 2015-04-30

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: PHASE3
• Total Enrollment: 38 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2011-07-31
• Study Completion Date: 2013-10-31

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study was to examine any potential benefit in lessening the severity of tinnitus (ringing or booming sensation in one or both ears) in subjects supplemented with magnesium (532 mg daily).

Detailed Description

Descriptions of tinnitus date back to the time of ancient Egypt, yet science has failed to unravel the mysterious underlying mechanisms that produce these subjective auditory perceptions of sound. These perceptions may be manifestations of damage resulting from noise exposure, ototoxicity, or other abnormal conditions of the auditory system. However, many individuals have idiopathic tinnitus for which no specific cause can be determined. Although often presenting in conjunction with hearing loss, the magnitude of hearing loss does not necessarily correspond with the severity of tinnitus. In addition, some individuals reporting tinnitus experience concomitant hyperacusis. This relationship suggests these processes may be linked by underlying imbalances at the level of the hair cell. The possible influence of magnesium (Mg) and its antagonist, calcium, has been discussed in the literature as a contributing factor in the mitigation of noise-induced hearing loss, ototoxicity, and the hyperexcitability of the auditory system. Permanent and temporary changes in auditory function have been linked to nutritional deficiencies of magnesium. Mg deficiency has resulted in increased susceptibility to noise-induced hearing loss, ototoxicity, and hyperexcitability of the auditory system.

The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for Mg in adults is 4.5 mg/kg; however, all age groups of Americans fall short of the RDA for Mg by 100 mg daily. This lack of appropriate magnesium intake may have negative consequences. For example, the putative Mg mechanism within the auditory system involves a metabolic cellular cascade of events. Specifically, Mg deficiency leads to increased permeability of the calcium channel in the hair cells with a consequent over-influx of calcium, an increased release of glutamate via exocytosis, and overstimulation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors on the auditory nerve fibers. Recent studies of both noise-induced hearing loss and idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss have suggested that Mg supplementation may lessen the severity of tinnitus in patients. Mg improved hearing recovery and lessened tinnitus in patients with idiopathic sudden hearing loss. More recently, a well-controlled study that Mg was a relatively safe and convenient adjunct to corticosteroid treatment for enhancing the improvements of hearing in acute-onset sensorineural hearing loss at a dose of 4 g. The protective effect of Mg in noise-induced hearing loss has been previously reported.

Despite these encouraging findings, no controlled study has examined the effect of Mg supplementation for subjects with moderate to severe tinnitus.

In this study subjects made 4 visits to the clinic over about 2 months. At the first visit, subjects had a hearing test. Prior to beginning each round of supplements, subjects were asked to rate the severity of their tinnitus on a 1-10 scale, and to complete the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) questionnaire. Subjects were then randomized to 1 of 2 groups. One group began with 532 mg of Mg for 25 days, the other group began with a placebo supplement for 25 days.

At visit 2, the subjects had a hearing test, rated their tinnitus, and completed the THI questionnaire as well as the Treatment Period Survey. Subjects did not take any supplement for 2 weeks, then returned for visit 3.

At Visit 3, the subjects had a hearing test, rated their tinnitus, and completed the THI questionnaire they then took the opposite supplement (placebo or Mg) for 25 days.

At Visit 4, the subjects had a hearing test, rated their tinnitus, and completed the THI questionnaire as well as the Treatment Period Survey.

Conditions

Tinnitus

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Magnesium first, then placebo

Magnesium 532 mg daily for 25 days followed by 2 weeks of washout followed by 25 days of placebo.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Magnesium

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Magnesium 532 mg a day

Placebo

Intervention Type: OTHER

matching form/dosage

Placebo first, then magnesium

Placebo daily for 25 days followed by 2 weeks of washout followed by magnesium 532 mg daily for 25 days.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Magnesium

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Magnesium 532 mg a day

Placebo

Intervention Type: OTHER

matching form/dosage

Interventions

Magnesium

Magnesium 532 mg a day

Intervention Type: DIETARY_SUPPLEMENT

Placebo

matching form/dosage

Intervention Type: OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Normal Kidney function (last checked within 6 months). Serum creatinine levels 1.5 mg/dL or below for females, 2.0 mg/dL for males.
• An audiogram within the past 6 months
• Mayo Clinic patients who live in Phoenix area

Exclusion Criteria

• Any participant with decreased kidney function within past 6 months, over 1.5 mg/dL for females and over 2.0 mg/dL for males.
• Current treatment with Lithium
• Tinnitus rating with 0, 1, or 2 on the 0-10 Tinnitus scale

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Mayo Clinic

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Michael Cevette

Associate Professor of Audiology, College of Medicine

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Michael Cevette, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Mayo Clinic

Locations

Mayo Clinic in Arizona

Scottsdale, Arizona, United States

Countries

United States

References

Cevette MJ, Barrs DM, Patel A, Conroy KP, Sydlowski S, Noble BN, Nelson GA, Stepanek J. Phase 2 study examining magnesium-dependent tinnitus. Int Tinnitus J. 2011;16(2):168-73.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 22249877 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

09-008292

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id