Otofisk is a food supplement useful for the treatment of tinnitus and microcirculatory dysfunctions.
Tinnitus are auditory disorders consisting of noises (such as whistles, buzzes, rustles, pulsations, etc.) that the ear perceives as annoying to such an extent as to affect the quality of life of the affected subject.
It is not classifiable as a disease, but it is a condition that can derive from a vast plurality of causes. These include: neurological damage, ear infections, oxidative stress, emotional stress, presence of foreign bodies in the ear, allergies that prevent (or induce) fluid drainage, accumulation of earwax and exposure to sound of high volume. Tinnitus can be an accompaniment to sensorineural hearing loss or a consequence of congenital hearing loss, or it can also be a side effect of some drugs (ototoxic tinnitus).
Several approaches have been tried for the treatment of tinnitus, starting also from cognitive-behavioral therapies. In this context, antioxidants, widely used in many areas of medicine, seem to represent a promising approach for the control of this symptom.
Otofisk, formulated in soft gel capsules, contains dry extract of Gikgo biloba (tit. 24% in flavones glycosides); alpha lipoic acid and trans-resveratrol (e.s. root Polygonum cuspidatum).
Resveratrol is a substance produced by various plant species that, thanks to its strong antioxidant properties, helps protect our body from cardiovascular diseases. This molecule also has anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities
Ginkgo biloba is a natural remedy used by many people to solve the problem of tinnitus. Its main effect is to reduce blood flow to the ear, thus limiting the symptoms of tinnitus.
The alpha lipoic acid is a cofactor of vital importance for the cells of the human organism, characterized by strong direct and indirect antioxidant activities. It has direct antioxidant activity being able to act both in the aqueous and lipid phase; thanks to this peculiar characteristic, alpha lipoic acid protects the body from both intracellular and extracellular free radicals. The indirect antioxidant activities concern the ability of the molecule to regenerate other antioxidants such as vitamin C, E, coenzyme Q10 and glutathione. In addition, alpha lipoic acid has chelating activities against heavy metals (such as mercury and lead) and contributes to the oxidative metabolism of sugars.
Nutrients (mg)
* Note Values calculated on a single administration
Several antioxidants have been studied for the treatment of tinnitus, showing positive effects in different clinical conditions. In particular G. biloba whose main active ingredients are flavonoids with antioxidant and vasodilator action, and lactone terpenes, which act as antiplatelet agents. The neurons of the central vestibular and auditory systems, the cochlear hair cells and the vestibular sensory cells have a high energy demand to continuously maintain and restore their transmembrane electric potential. Impaired mitochondrial function and compromised perfusion are believed to contribute to cochlear and vestibular dysfunction and sensory cellular degeneration that underlie tinnitus.
Ginkgo biloba extract has a beneficial effect on the inner ear and improves cerebral blood flow, reducing blood viscosity; it also improves mitochondrial function and energy metabolism, which overall can play a role in improving the function of the inner ear and brain in elderly people with dementia (who often present with vascular disorders and impaired mitochondrial function). The antiapoptotic and neuroprotective properties of Ginkgo extract can inhibit the loss (related to aging) of cochlear and vestibular sensory cells, which can play a fundamental role precisely in tinnitus and vertigo.
In this meta-analysis we wanted to assess whether Ginkgo treatment was superior to placebo in relieving tinnitus or vertigo.
The reduction in tinnitus severity of 27% -40% compared to the placebo effect may represent clinically relevant effect sizes.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6005330/
It also appears that the phenolic compound resveratrol has a protective role on hearing disorders and drug-induced ototoxicity.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27608909
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25434479
Therefore, evaluating the etiopathogenesis of tinnitus and the different clinical studies that have been conducted, it is plausible to think that the combination of antioxidants (such as Ginkgo biloba e.s., Alpha lipoic acid and Resveratrol), can be beneficial and beneficial for treating tinnitus.
