The association of dietary inflammatory index with auditory and vestibular disorders in Korean adults: Differential links to peripheral vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus.

BACKGROUND

The auditory and vestibular systems are crucial for human perception, spatial orientation, and balance control. Dysfunction in these systems is a significant public health issue. This study explores the relationship between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and auditory-vestibular disorders such as hearing loss, tinnitus, and Peripheral Vertigo (PV).

METHODS

The authors used data from the 2020-2023 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) to assess the associations between DII and hearing loss, tinnitus, and PV in Korean adults. A cross-sectional design was employed, with DII calculated based on dietary recall.

RESULTS

The study found significant associations between DII and moderate-to-severe hearing loss and PV. Specifically, higher DII scores were associated with an increased odds of hearing loss and PV. Subgroup analyses showed that women and older adults exhibited a stronger association between DII and hearing loss.

CONCLUSION

The present findings suggest an association between higher DII and both hearing loss and PV. However, the cross-sectional design limits causal inference. Future longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the role of dietary inflammation in auditory and vestibular dysfunction.