250 IU of Vitamin D for 3 months never helps
Vitamin D Deficiency as a Risk Factor for Onset and Recurrence of Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Prospective Cohort Study With Age-Specific Analysis
Food Sci Nutr. 2026 Jan doi: 10.1002/eCollection 2026
The link between Vitamin D (Vit D) deficiency and sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), especially regarding recurrence and age-related disparities, remains unclear. Recurrence and age-specific risks of SSNHL are underaddressed, limiting preventive strategies. This study investigated if Vit D deficiency increases SSNHL onset and recurrence risks, with a focus on age-specific associations. In this prospective cohort study, 80 adult SSNHL patients and 60 matched controls were enrolled. All patients received standard therapy. Baseline serum 25(OH)D was measured, Vit D deficiency or insufficient patients were randomized in a single-blind manner to receive 3-month Vit D supplementation. We monitored Vit D levels, hearing recovery (pure-tone audiometry at 10 days and 3 months), recurrence, and associated symptoms. Vit D deficiency was more prevalent in SSNHL patients than controls (38.8% vs. 10.0%, p = 0.000). Recurrent SSNHL patients had significantly lower Vit D levels (18.4 ± 4.1 ng/mL) than first-onset patients (24.9 ± 9.7 ng/mL). The highest deficiency rate (60.0%) was in patients under 30 years. Multivariate analysis identified audiometric subtype, not Vit D status, as an independent outcome predictor. Vit D supplementation did not significantly improve recovery rates (75.7% vs. 68.2%) or alleviate symptoms. Vit D deficiency is a significant, modifiable risk factor for SSNHL onset and recurrence, with the strongest association in patients under 30 years old. However, short-term Vit D supplementation initiated after SSNHL diagnosis failed to improve clinical outcomes, underscoring that long-term maintenance of adequate Vit D levels, rather than acute post-symptom intervention, may be critical for reducing SSNHL risk in high-risk populations.
This is an example of dozens of studies seen each month but not posted on VitaminDWiki
The study justified the dose size by referring to a 2011 publication (R11)
"2.6 We suggest that the maintenance tolerable upper limits (UL) of vitamin D, which is not to be exceeded without medical supervision, should be
- 1000 IU/d for infants up to 6 months,
- 1500 IU/d for infants from 6 months to 1 yr,
- at least 2500 IU/d for children aged 1–3 yr,
- 3000 IU/d for children aged 4–8 yr, and
- 4000 IU/d for everyone over 8 yr.
However, higher levels of 2000 IU/d for children 0–1 yr, 4000 IU/d for children 1–18 yr, and 10,000 IU/d for children and adults 19 yr and older may be needed to correct vitamin D deficiency."