Findings from first large population-based metabolomic study of tinnitus reveal new insights into metabolic pathways that could identify biomarkers and inform investigations of novel therapeutic targets for persistent tinnitus.
BREAKING… new “early access” draft article for newsletter subscribers:
A new tinnitus-related preprint, hot off the press. (But don’t let the conservative title deceive you; there is a lot of exciting stuff inside.)
From the June 16, 2022 article (not yet peer reviewed), titled, “A Population-Based Study of Plasma Metabolomic Profiles of Persistent Tinnitus Identifies Candidate Biomarkers”:
- Targeted interventions that modify plasma lipid status may influence the course of tinnitus…
- PC plasmalogens could play a promising role in tinnitus protection, prevention, and management…
- An inverse association of plasma LPCs and persistent tinnitus, a novel finding consistent with previous studies suggesting that LPCs may help reduce inflammation and act as mediators…
- Levulinate is a food additive and is used as a calcium supplement source. Further studies to investigate the role of [this metabolite] in the pathogenesis of tinnitus [is] needed…
- And more…
From the paper:
In this first large population-based metabolomic study of tinnitus, we identified several plasma metabolites and metabolite classes that were significantly associated with persistent tinnitus, and the findings differed by hearing status. These findings provide new insights into metabolic pathways that may be involved in tinnitus etiology and suggest that metabolomic profiling offers a promising approach to identify tinnitus biomarkers and inform investigations of novel therapeutic targets for this challenging disorder.
Link to the preprint full-text:
A Population-Based Study of Plasma Metabolomic Profiles of Persistent Tinnitus Identifies Candidate Biomarkers [Preprint]
June 16, 2022
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.06.11.22276279v1.full-text
Lightly edited and paraphrased excerpts:
“This study identified novel plasma metabolites (and metabolite classes) significantly associated with persistent tinnitus […] which nor only extends our current understanding of tinnitus […] but which could accelerate the detection of therapeutic targets for this disorder.”
“These findings provide new insights into metabolic pathways that may be involved in tinnitus etiology and suggest that metabolomic profiling offers a promising approach to identify tinnitus biomarkers and inform investigations of novel therapeutic targets […]”
Unedited commentary:
This preprint, by the way, is from an all-star lineup of researchers. I am planning to write a follow-up article that goes into the findings in greater detail. There is a LOT of promising stuff inside this preprint, for anyone who has a chance to dive in.
For now, I just wanted to share it ASAP. Because, at the end of the day, one of the primary roles of this newsletter is to ensure that promising research (i.e., research with great upside potential) gets the attention it deserves. A fair chance.
So that it is not eclipsed by what some people (who shall not me named) might be tempted to refer to as, “dead-end, incremental and underwhelming, money-sucking research projects that are not aligned with patient-centered treatment outcomes.”
Greater awareness among the tinnitus community creates accountability. It becomes something that people who direct large sums of research funding need to factor into their decisions. Hmmm…
Fully informed patients, collectively, help steer research dollars. Fact. And sometimes that can be as simple as… knowing what is out there, and helping it show up on the radar of those who make decisions on your behalf.
I digress…
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Oh, and speaking of fams…
Happy Father’s day to all the dads reading this. You all deserve a “World’s Greatest Tinnitus Treatment Report Subscriber” mug, in addition to any other mugs you may be gifted today, fyi.
You will also get a follow-up to this research update.