The association of dietary inflammatory index with auditory and vestibular disorders in Korean adults: Differential links to peripheral vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus

The auditory and vestibular systems are crucial for human perception, spatial orientation, and balance control. Dysfunction in these systems is a significant public health issue. This study explores the relationship between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII) and auditory-vestibular disorders such as hearing loss, tinnitus, and Peripheral Vertigo (PV).

Early cross-sectional evidence suggests dietary inflammation may be linked to inner-ear disorders, but the study design cannot prove causation; no practice change is warranted until longitudinal or interventional data confirm these associations.

If confirmed by future research, dietary modification could become a modifiable risk-reduction strategy for common and burdensome inner-ear conditions, broadening the audiologist's counseling toolkit.

1. 01Cross-sectional study of Korean adults linking a pro-inflammatory diet to peripheral vertigo, hearing loss, and tinnitus.
2. 02Each disorder showed differential (distinct) associations with the dietary inflammatory index, suggesting condition-specific mechanisms.
3. 03Published in Clinics (Sao Paulo); DOI 10.1016/j.clinsp.2026.101045.
4. 04Cross-sectional design limits causal inference — reverse causation cannot be excluded.
5. 05Findings add to growing literature connecting systemic inflammation to auditory and vestibular pathology.

PMID

42424662

DOI

10.1016/j.clinsp.2026.101045.

Journal

Clinics (Sao Paulo)

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

3

Population

Korean adults assessed for auditory and vestibular disorders

Intervention

Dietary inflammatory index (exposure measure)