Retinol Vitamin A Indispensable for Hearing Loss

Well, the more I read the better I am informed.  I can't always say that.  I read lots of articles and reports that are false, misleading, or oversell a vitamin or food.  Lots of misinformation out there that needs a conflicting opinion and some revision.  The other type of reports I come across consist of omitted data.  For example, when science and nutrition reporters tell us that Vitamin A is excellent for eyesight, they often point to the Vitamin A found in fruits and vegetables or phytonutrients, that nutrient being beta-carotene.  There are at least two kinds of Vitamin A that I am aware of--Retinol Vitamin A you get from animal meats and Beta Carotene Vitamin A obtained from fruits and vegetables, carrots being the most often hyped vegetable for its Vitamin A content. 

I found an article on the value of Vitamin A from Bill Sardi through Sally Fallon.  Fallon's article is elegant, concise, and to the point.  Sardi's article presents the data behind the finding--that Retinol Vitamin A is essential for treatment and to reverse hearing loss.  But a lot depends on those terms.  And not just Vitamin A Retinol tablets once or twice a week, though I am sure that even that small amount would work, but incorporating Vitamin A into daily meals.  See the list of Retinol Vitamin A foods below.  Not as difficult as you might first think.  Do you like liver--chicken or beef liver?  That is your Retinol Vitamin A powerhouse. Powerhouse because the other Vitamin Bs in liver produce a beautiful effect on muscle, nerves, and other tissue.  Also, fish oils.  Not all fish oils are created equal.  "Fish Oils" means you get all the parts of a fish, liver, brains, kidneys, everything.  Some manufacturers claim superior purity, but will have no liver in their fish oils.  It sounds to me that the liver of the fish is what you're after when you want Retinol Vitamin A.

First, here is Fallon's article published in October 2014, six months ago:

In these pages, we often report on vitamin A—that most necessary of all nutrients, found in very high levels in primitive diets but declared toxic by modern dietary authorities. Vitamin A supports vibrant health in so many ways—from formation and development of the fetus to hormone production to healthy eyes, skin and bones. A new report summarizes research showing that vitamin A supports a preventive, therapeutic and even regenerative role in hearing loss, and can even allay tinnitus—ringing in the ears. For example, a French study from as early as 1823 found that hearing levels were better among those who consumed the most vitamin A and also vitamin B12 from various foods, including red meat. A 1984 European study reported a 5-15 decibel improvement in patients with age-related hearing loss when given vitamins A and E. Other researchers reported that vitamin A deficiency results in a decline in the number of sensory cells in the nose, tongue and inner ear. A 1993 study reported in Science found that vitamin A can stimulate the regeneration of mammalian auditory hair cells. In 2009, Japanese researchers found that adults with the highest blood serum levels of vitamin A and carotenoids have the lowest risk for hearing loss. And, in 2014, researchers determined that vitamin A deficiency during pregnancy, especially during the early stages of fetal development “may predispose offspring to inner ear malformations and sensorial hearing loss.” These studies and several others are detailed in a fascinating report by Bill Sardi at knowledgeofhealth.com, May 21, 2014.

Next, here are a few key points from Sardi's article:

In the 1993 Science report researchers said: “sensorial hearing loss resulting from the loss of auditory hair cells is thought to be irreversible in mammals.  This study provides evidence that retinoic acid (Vitamin A) can stimulate the regeneration in vitro [in a lab dish] of mammalian auditory hair cells” in poisoned ear tissues of the lab rat.  “These results provide hope for recovery of hearing function in mammals after auditory hair cell damage,” said the report.  [Science April 30, 1993].  

FOOD SOURCES of VITAMIN A ABSORB READILY

Eat raw butter, egg yolks, liver from animals, cod liver oil, and heavy cream from grassfed cows.

What are true vitamin A foods – the foods that give the body retinol, not carotenes?

Liver from any animal, enjoy pasture-raised liver 2-3 times per week or take desiccated liver capsules daily.

    

     Fermented Cod Liver Oil, which is higher in vitamins (I recommend the Cinnamon Tingleflavor).    

     

     Regular Cod Liver Oil, the Weston A Price Foundation suggests this specific brand of cod liver oil capsules if the fermented option cannot be purchased. (However, there is some controversy that this cod liver oil is now stripped of the naturally-occurring vitamins during processing.)

     

     Egg yolks from hens foraging in pasture, ideally enjoy 2-4 egg yolks per day (Don’t worry about the cholesterol).

    

     Butter from grassfed cows. 

    

     Heavy cream from grassfed cows.

Sardi continues:

Another report said: “morphological (form and structure) experiments reveal different and in some ways contradictory results, but they showed that vitamin A seems to be essential for inner ear morpohogenesis.”  [Z Ernahrungswiss (European Journal Nutrition) June 1984].

. . .

By 1990 researchers fed two groups of guinea pigs a vitamin A-deficient and supplemented diet and reported that the vitamin A-fed group had greater sensitivity to sounds.  [Journal NutritionJuly 1990].  The researchers puzzlingly concluded that Vitamin A may increase the probability of noise-induced hearing loss without recognizing Vitamin A must be regenerative in some manner.  

VITAMIN A INJECTIONS?  A POWERFUL OPTION SAYS SARDI . . . 

In 2012 researchers at the University of Southern California reported on the use of Vitamin A injections (200,000 international units) among poorly nourished school children in Nepal.  It is assumed frequent childhood inner-ear infections would induce hearing loss.  Among children who had experienced inner ear infections, the Vitamin A-treated children were 42% less likely to have experienced hearing loss than non-vitamin-treated children.  [British Medical Journal Jan. 10, 2012]