The role of magnesium in otology - A narrative review

Magnesium is believed to have a positive and protective effect on inner ear disorders. We conducted a systematic literature search on the topic. The mesh terms "magnesium", "tinnitus", "sudden hearing loss", "vestibular disorders", "ototoxicity", and "otoprotection" were used for the Medline search. Based on this approach, a narrative review with a structured literature search was conducted....

No actionable change: this narrative review synthesises existing evidence on magnesium in otology but does not provide sufficient evidence from controlled trials to justify recommending magnesium supplementation in routine audiology or otology practice.

As patients increasingly ask about supplements for hearing protection and tinnitus, a systematic understanding of magnesium's evidence base helps clinicians give evidence-informed answers rather than relying on anecdote.

1. 01Narrative review examines magnesium's proposed role across multiple inner ear conditions.
2. 02Conditions reviewed include tinnitus, sudden sensorineural hearing loss, and noise-induced hearing loss.
3. 03Magnesium is theorised to protect inner ear hair cells via vasodilation and NMDA-receptor antagonism.
4. 04Evidence quality across included studies is variable; narrative format limits bias assessment.
5. 05Published in Magnesium Research.

PMID

42439044

DOI

10.1684/mrh.2026.0553.

Journal

Magnesium Research

Publication type

review

Evidence level

5

Population

Patients with inner ear disorders including tinnitus, sudden sensorineural hearing loss, and noise-induced hearing loss (literature-based; no primary patient cohort)

Intervention

Magnesium supplementation or magnesium status in relation to inner ear disorders