Hearing impairment is a common complication in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), significantly impacting their quality of life. Currently, there is no approved pharmacologic therapy for hearing dysfunction in these patients, and researchers have turned their attention to curcumin, a natural compound found in turmeric, a spice in the ginger family, with known anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. A recent study published in Scientific Reports explored the protective effects of curcumin on hearing impairment in CKD patients.*

What the Researchers Did

The researchers conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 40 non-dialysis CKD patients with hearing impairment. The participants were randomly divided into two groups, with one group receiving 500 mg of curcumin daily and the other receiving a placebo. The treatment lasted for 12 weeks. 

The researchers assessed auditory function through various measures both before and after the intervention to evaluate the effects of curcumin on hearing function:

• Interval between auditory waves types 3 and 5. These are two of the most important waves to identify and measure in auditory brainstem response tests for hearing loss. 
• Latency of auditory wave type 5. The time lapse between sound generation and auditory brainstem response.
• Auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds. The lowest sound pressure levels that can produce electrical response waves that can be identified.
• Speech discrimination score (SDS). Also called word recognition score. The number of words correctly repeated.
• Speech reception threshold (SRT). A measurement of how well someone can hear and recognize speech at low volumes.

What They Found

The study found that curcumin significantly improved several auditory measures in CKD patients compared to the placebo group. Specifically:

• The interval between auditory waves was reduced by 7.4% in the curcumin group, while it deteriorated in the placebo group.
• The latency of wave 5 decreased by 6.5% in the curcumin group, indicating an improvement, whereas no significant change was observed in the placebo group.
• The ABR threshold improved by 27% in the curcumin group, while remaining almost unchanged in the placebo group.
• The SDS improved by 3.7% in the curcumin group, while it slightly decreased in the placebo group.
• The SRT decreased by 20% in the curcumin group, reflecting better hearing, while the placebo group showed no significant change.

What It Means

The findings suggest that curcumin may be an effective therapeutic agent for improving hearing impairment in CKD patients. The study demonstrated that daily administration of 500 mg of curcumin over 12 weeks led to significant improvements in various auditory functions. 

Given curcumin’s safety profile and its potential benefits in addressing hearing loss associated with CKD, it could be considered a viable treatment option. 

Per the study authors, however, further studies with larger sample sizes and long-term follow-up are needed to confirm these results and to better understand the mechanisms behind curcumin’s protective effects on hearing.

*Doostkam, A., Iravai, K., Malekmakan, L., Gholamabbas, G., et al. (2024, July 30). The effectiveness of curcumin as a safe agent on hearing threshold improvement in patients with chronic kidney disease: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Scientific Reports. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-68572-8 

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