The effect of oral magnesium-substitution on the prevention of noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) of guinea pig

According to the present knowledge in magnesium pathobiochemistry with regard to NIHL a protective effect of magnesium on the noise affected hair cell is probably. In order to prove this effect statistically we estimated the frequency depending permanent threshold shift (PTS) by means of measurement of acoustically evoked brainstem potentials of27 ''industrial-noise'' exposed guinea pigs, 15 guineapigs received a 300 ppm Mg-diet and 12 animals a 2000 ppm Mg-diet respectively. The quality of noise: 4 weeks exposure 8 hours daily; frequency range from 1,0 kHz to 31,5 kHz; noise peak level 95 dB. The ''magnesium-status'' of the animals was estimated by means of magnesium analysis (atomabsorption) in serum, erythrozytes and myocardium. The PTS under magnesium-deficiency was highly significant greater in comparison with PTS of normal magnesium-nourished animals (WILCOXON rank sum test). In accordance with the present knowledge we recommend the magnesium-prophylaxis for noise-exposed risk groups.