Salt is always added to meals, and the risk of hearing loss is up to 23%

Sep 15, 2025

Salt is always added to meals, and the risk of hearing loss is up to 23%
data photo source=Pixabay



In a study using large population cohort data from the UK Biobank, a research team led by Professor Jeong Da-jung of the Department of Otolaryngology at Kyungpook National University Hospital found for the first time in the world that the habit of adding salt at meals increases the risk of hearing loss.

The research team conducted a long-term follow-up survey of about 490,000 adults aged 40 to 69 and found that those who "always add salt" to their meals had a 23% higher risk of hearing loss than those who "almost never do". In particular, this association was more pronounced in the relatively younger age group under the age of 60, in men, and in the group without diabetes or hypertension.

Existing studies have explored the association between salt intake and hearing damage, but they have not reached consistent conclusions as they have focused on small-scale studies. This study is of great academic and clinical significance in that it is the first study to present causal clues between salt intake frequency and the risk of hearing loss based on the world's largest cohort data.




Professor Da-jung Jeong said, `This study shows that salt intake habits can affect the occurrence of hearing loss, and it has great public health implications for the prevention of hearing loss in that it suggests the possibility of preserving hearing through simple dietary improvement.'

This achievement provides an important basis for contributing to the preparation of preventive strategies for hearing loss and the development of customized nutritional treatment guidelines in the future, and was published in the latest issue of the international journal 『The Journal of Nutrition』 (Health Aging Elsevier / Impact factor 4.7).



Salt is always added to meals, and the risk of hearing loss is up to 23%
From left, Professor Da-jung Jeong of Kyungpook National University Hospital's otolaryngology department, Professor Seo In-cheol of Kyungpook National University School of Medicine's immunology department, Researcher Han Young-ji of Kyungpook National University Hospital's Biomedical Research Institute, Professor Lee Kyu-yeop of Kyungpook National University Hospital's otolaryngology department


This article was translated by Naver AI translator.