Characteristic Alterations of Gut Microbiota and Serum Metabolites in Patients with Chronic Tinnitus

[Nick47]

IMPORTANCE: Tinnitus affects millions of people worldwide. Severe cases may lead to sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression, subsequently impacting patients' lives and increasing societal healthcare expenditures. However, tinnitus mechanisms are poorly understood, and effective therapeutic interventions are currently lacking.

We discovered the gut microbiota and serum metabolomics changes in patients with tinnitus, and provided the potential pathological mechanisms of dysregulated gut flora in chronic tinnitus.

We proposed the innovative concept of the "gut-brain-ear axis," which underscores the exploration of gut microbiota impact on susceptibility to chronic tinnitus through serum metabolic profile modulation. We also reveal novel biomarkers associated with chronic tinnitus, offering a new conceptual framework for further investigations into the susceptibility of patients, potential treatment targets for tinnitus, and assessing patient prognosis.

Subsequently, gut microbiota and serum metabolites can be used as molecular markers to assess the susceptibility and prognosis of tinnitus.Furthermore, fecal transplantation may be used to treat tinnitus.

Characteristic alterations of gut microbiota and serum metabolites in patients with chronic tinnitus: a multi-omics analysis - PubMed

Chronic tinnitus is a central nervous system disorder. Currently, the effects of gut microbiota on tinnitus remain unexplored. To explore the connection between gut microbiota and tinnitus, we conducted 16S rRNA sequencing of fecal microbiota and serum metabolomic analysis in a cohort of 70...

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

 

[AverageJoe12]

Hot dang... the gut-brain-ear axis now...

The full study is here.

 

[Nick47]

The full study is here.

Thanks, @AverageJoe12.

 

[IYIiKe]

I suppose there might be some hope for identifying a marker, but it's hard to say that I see any promise of reversibility through this avenue of research.

 

[Nick47]

I suppose there might be some hope for identifying a marker, but it's hard to say that I see any promise of reversibility through this avenue of research.

@IYIiKe, I agree. While this could be one aspect of a multifaceted treatment, I envision a future where treatments involve a combination of two to five medicines, nutraceuticals, electrical stimulations, or biomodal therapies, all tailored to the individual.

There are cases where a single treatment is effective, such as cochlear implants or hearing aids, but for most diseases, treatment typically involves a combination of approaches.

I find it interesting, though I was in the same mindset three years ago, that many people cycle through studies focused on a single medication, then move on to another one, and do the same with supplements. This is rarely how treatment works for most conditions.

For example, I recently developed mild arthritis from running and joined a forum. I noticed that typical treatment involves two or three medications, steroid injections, and specific exercises. It would seem odd for a patient to try each one in isolation, evaluating them individually, and wondering which is the best. Yet, this is often how people approach treatments for other conditions.