A Clinical Evaluation of Calcium and Fluoride Supplementation for Tinnitus in Non-Surgical Otosclerosis: Insights from a Tertiary Care Center in Romania
<i>Background and Objectives</i>: The management of chronic tinnitus in patients with otosclerosis presents a considerable clinical challenge, particularly as to those who are either ineligible for or reluctant to undergo surgical interventions. Surgical interventions improve hearing lev...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Andrei Osman Alice Elena Ghenea Ovidiu Mircea Zlatian Lidia Boldeanu Irina Enache Madalina Gabriela Georgescu Carmen Aurelia Mogoanta |
| author_facet | Andrei Osman Alice Elena Ghenea Ovidiu Mircea Zlatian Lidia Boldeanu Irina Enache Madalina Gabriela Georgescu Carmen Aurelia Mogoanta |
| author_sort | Andrei Osman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Background and Objectives</i>: The management of chronic tinnitus in patients with otosclerosis presents a considerable clinical challenge, particularly as to those who are either ineligible for or reluctant to undergo surgical interventions. Surgical interventions improve hearing levels and may provide relief from tinnitus; however, medical research is also focused on alternative non-surgical treatments aimed at symptomatic improvement. This is particularly relevant, considering that otosclerosis currently has no definitive cure, despite the existence of various surgical techniques and oral therapies. This study evaluates the effects of oral calcium and fluoride supplementation on tinnitus severity in otosclerosis patients who opted for non-surgical management. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A total of 128 otosclerosis patients with tinnitus were included in this study, which was conducted over a five-year period. Patients were categorized into three groups based on the severity of their tinnitus (mild, moderate and severe), as assessed by the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). Patients in all three groups received Florical (Mericon Industries, Inc., Peoria, IL, USA), a calcium and fluoride supplement, and were monitored over three months. The severity of tinnitus was reassessed following supplementation. Statistical analyses were conducted to further investigate patient scores. <i>Results</i>: Evaluating patients based on the severity of their tinnitus, we consistently observed clinically significant reductions in THI scores, specifically a decrease of 10 points or more, among those with mild tinnitus. The moderate group exhibited a lower degree of reduction in their THI scores, while the severe group appeared to be unaffected. Statistical analyses reveal a significant correlation between the reduction of tinnitus and the supplementation of Florical, as the severity of tinnitus decreases. <i>Conclusions</i>: The present study suggests that oral calcium and fluoride supplementation may serve as a promising non-surgical approach for tinnitus management in otosclerosis (particularly in patients with mild symptoms), in addition to its marketing-indicated role, supporting the preservation of hearing levels in otosclerosis. Its efficacy seems to diminish as tinnitus severity increases, further pointing out a potential preventative role of this supplementation. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e939f1fce8fd469f9f20214dc083410b |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1010-660X 1648-9144 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
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| series | Medicina |
| spelling | doaj-art-e939f1fce8fd469f9f20214dc083410b2025-08-20T02:18:14ZengMDPI AGMedicina1010-660X1648-91442025-03-0161456910.3390/medicina61040569A Clinical Evaluation of Calcium and Fluoride Supplementation for Tinnitus in Non-Surgical Otosclerosis: Insights from a Tertiary Care Center in RomaniaAndrei Osman0Alice Elena Ghenea1Ovidiu Mircea Zlatian2Lidia Boldeanu3Irina Enache4Madalina Gabriela Georgescu5Carmen Aurelia Mogoanta6Department of Anatomy and Embriology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, RomaniaDepartment of Microbiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, RomaniaDepartment of Microbiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, RomaniaDepartment of Microbiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, RomaniaDepartment of Anatomy and Embriology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200349 Craiova, RomaniaDepartment of General Surgery and Qualified Care in Surgical Specialties, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, RomaniaOtorhinolaringology Department, Emergency County Hospital of Craiova, 200642 Craiova, Romania<i>Background and Objectives</i>: The management of chronic tinnitus in patients with otosclerosis presents a considerable clinical challenge, particularly as to those who are either ineligible for or reluctant to undergo surgical interventions. Surgical interventions improve hearing levels and may provide relief from tinnitus; however, medical research is also focused on alternative non-surgical treatments aimed at symptomatic improvement. This is particularly relevant, considering that otosclerosis currently has no definitive cure, despite the existence of various surgical techniques and oral therapies. This study evaluates the effects of oral calcium and fluoride supplementation on tinnitus severity in otosclerosis patients who opted for non-surgical management. <i>Materials and Methods</i>: A total of 128 otosclerosis patients with tinnitus were included in this study, which was conducted over a five-year period. Patients were categorized into three groups based on the severity of their tinnitus (mild, moderate and severe), as assessed by the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI). Patients in all three groups received Florical (Mericon Industries, Inc., Peoria, IL, USA), a calcium and fluoride supplement, and were monitored over three months. The severity of tinnitus was reassessed following supplementation. Statistical analyses were conducted to further investigate patient scores. <i>Results</i>: Evaluating patients based on the severity of their tinnitus, we consistently observed clinically significant reductions in THI scores, specifically a decrease of 10 points or more, among those with mild tinnitus. The moderate group exhibited a lower degree of reduction in their THI scores, while the severe group appeared to be unaffected. Statistical analyses reveal a significant correlation between the reduction of tinnitus and the supplementation of Florical, as the severity of tinnitus decreases. <i>Conclusions</i>: The present study suggests that oral calcium and fluoride supplementation may serve as a promising non-surgical approach for tinnitus management in otosclerosis (particularly in patients with mild symptoms), in addition to its marketing-indicated role, supporting the preservation of hearing levels in otosclerosis. Its efficacy seems to diminish as tinnitus severity increases, further pointing out a potential preventative role of this supplementation.https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/4/569otosclerosistinnituscalcium and fluorideTinnitus Handicap Index |
| spellingShingle | Andrei Osman Alice Elena Ghenea Ovidiu Mircea Zlatian Lidia Boldeanu Irina Enache Madalina Gabriela Georgescu Carmen Aurelia Mogoanta A Clinical Evaluation of Calcium and Fluoride Supplementation for Tinnitus in Non-Surgical Otosclerosis: Insights from a Tertiary Care Center in Romania Medicina otosclerosis tinnitus calcium and fluoride Tinnitus Handicap Index |
| title | A Clinical Evaluation of Calcium and Fluoride Supplementation for Tinnitus in Non-Surgical Otosclerosis: Insights from a Tertiary Care Center in Romania |
| title_full | A Clinical Evaluation of Calcium and Fluoride Supplementation for Tinnitus in Non-Surgical Otosclerosis: Insights from a Tertiary Care Center in Romania |
| title_fullStr | A Clinical Evaluation of Calcium and Fluoride Supplementation for Tinnitus in Non-Surgical Otosclerosis: Insights from a Tertiary Care Center in Romania |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Clinical Evaluation of Calcium and Fluoride Supplementation for Tinnitus in Non-Surgical Otosclerosis: Insights from a Tertiary Care Center in Romania |
| title_short | A Clinical Evaluation of Calcium and Fluoride Supplementation for Tinnitus in Non-Surgical Otosclerosis: Insights from a Tertiary Care Center in Romania |
| title_sort | clinical evaluation of calcium and fluoride supplementation for tinnitus in non surgical otosclerosis insights from a tertiary care center in romania |
| topic | otosclerosis tinnitus calcium and fluoride Tinnitus Handicap Index |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1648-9144/61/4/569 |
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