Tinnitus (Ear ringing)
Supplements studied for tinnitus (ear ringing).
Overview
Melatonin carries the strongest evidence among supplements for tinnitus, with medium ratings across seven studies. Some trials found 3 mg nightly for one to three months reduced loudness and improved sleep, especially in men, treatment-naive patients, and those with noise-related tinnitus. One study found melatonin outperformed sertraline, though overall evidence remains mixed.
Ginkgo (11 studies) is not reliably effective despite occasional small benefits. Caffeine has insufficient evidence. Acai reduced bother in one small study but placebo also improved, making benefit uncertain. Alpha-Lipoic Acid helped some patients with cochlear-related tinnitus in one uncontrolled study but not those with nerve damage. See the heatmap and evidence reviews below.
Effect graph
Relevant supplements
Relevant supplements sorted by DEX Score.
| Melatonin | ★★★★★ | Medium |
| Ginkgo | ★★★★★ | Very Low / None |
| Acai | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Astragalus | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Alpha-Lipoic Acid | ★★★★★ | Low |
| Caffeine | ★★★★★ | Very Low / None |
Studies
Find individual evidence reviews for supplements sorted by DEX Score.
6 supplements for , and rated at least stars. All purchase bands. No minimum star filter.
MelatoninView supplement →
Consider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is not clear whether melatonin helps with tinnitus.
- Some studies show that taking 3 mg of melatonin at night for one month can lower the loudness of tinnitus and improve sleep, especially in men, people who have never had treatment for tinnitus, and those with noise-related tinnitus.
- Other research found that taking 3 mg of melatonin daily for three months worked better at reducing tinnitus symptoms than a common prescription medication (sertraline).
Browse 7 studies
RCTComparison of Melatonin and Sertraline Therapies on Tinnitus: A Randomized Clinical Trial2017n=70
An RCT of 70 tinnitus patients found 3 mg/day melatonin for 3 months reduced Tinnitus Handicap Inventory scores more than 50 mg/day sertraline.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 3 months
- Dose
- 3 mg/day
- Population
- Tinnitus patients
- Participants
- 70
RCTMelatonin: can it stop the ringing?2011n=61
A crossover RCT of 61 chronic tinnitus patients found 3 mg/night melatonin for 30 days significantly reduced tinnitus intensity and improved sleep vs placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 30 days
- Dose
- 3 mg
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 61
RCTManagement of tinnitus: oral treatment with melatonin and sulodexide2009n=102
An RCT of 102 tinnitus patients found melatonin plus sulodexide improved Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and acufenometry scores more than melatonin alone, while the untreated control group did not improve.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Adults with tinnitus
- Participants
- 102
RCTTreatment of central and sensorineural tinnitus with orally administered Melatonin and Sulodexide: personal experience from a randomized controlled study2009n=102
An RCT of 102 tinnitus patients found melatonin plus sulodexide improved Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and acufenometry scores more than melatonin alone, with no improvement in the untreated control group.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- ALL patients
- Participants
- 102
RCTSulpiride and melatonin decrease tinnitus perception modulating the auditolimbic dopaminergic pathway2007n=20
An RCT of 99 tinnitus patients found 3 mg/day melatonin for 1 month reduced tinnitus perception by 40%, while sulpiride plus melatonin reduced it by 81% vs 22% with placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 1 month
- Dose
- 3 mg/day
- Population
- Tinnitus patients
- Participants
- 20
Open-labelThe effects of melatonin on tinnitus and sleep2006n=24
An open-label study of 24 tinnitus patients found 3 mg/day melatonin for 4 weeks significantly improved Tinnitus Handicap Inventory and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Dose
- 3 mg/day
- Population
- Tinnitus patients
- Participants
- 24
RCTEffect of melatonin on tinnitus1998n=30
A crossover RCT of 30 subjective tinnitus patients found 3 mg/night melatonin did not change overall THI scores but improved outcomes in patients with sleep-related tinnitus (46.7% vs 20% with placebo).
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 30 days
- Dose
- 3.0 mg/day
- Population
- Adults with tinnitus
- Participants
- 30
AcaiView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- A small study looked at whether acai extract could help with ringing in the ears (tinnitus).
- People who took acai daily for three months felt less bothered by their tinnitus.
- But people taking a placebo also felt better, so we don't know if acai really helps.
Browse 1 study
RCTSupplementation with açaí (Euterpe Oleracea Martius) for the treatment of chronic tinnitus: effects on perception, anxiety levels and oxidative metabolism biomarkers2022n=30
An RCT in 30 adults (avg age 50.5 years) with chronic tinnitus found that 100 mg/day acai extract for 3 months reduced tinnitus discomfort on the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory versus placebo (p=0.006).
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 3 months
- Dose
- 100 mg/day
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 30
- Avg age
- ~50
GinkgoView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Most studies find that taking ginkgo extract does not help with tinnitus (ringing in the ears).
- Some research shows small benefits, but overall, ginkgo is not reliably effective for this condition.
Browse 11 studies·2 meta-analyses
RCTEfficacy and Safety of Co-Administered St. John's Wort and Ginkgo biloba Extracts in Patients with Subjective Tinnitus: A Preliminary Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial2023n=26
In a 12-week RCT of 46 tinnitus patients, co-administration of St. John's wort and Ginkgo biloba did not reduce tinnitus severity more than Ginkgo alone.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 26
- Ages
- 30–70
RCTGinkgo biloba Administered Singly and Combined With Antioxidants in Tinnitus Patients2023n=24
In an RCT of tinnitus patients, Ginkgo biloba alone or with antioxidants did not significantly improve tinnitus severity versus placebo over 14 weeks.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Dose
- 60 mg 2×/day
- Population
- Older adults
- Participants
- 24
- Ages
- 40–70
Systematic reviewGinkgo biloba for tinnitus2022n=1,915
A Cochrane review of RCTs found no reliable evidence that Ginkgo biloba improves tinnitus severity or quality of life versus placebo.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 1,915
MetaGinkgo biloba for tinnitus2013n=1,543
An updated Cochrane meta-analysis found Ginkgo biloba did not improve tinnitus symptoms versus placebo across included RCTs.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 1,543
RCTClonazepam quiets tinnitus: a randomised crossover study with Ginkgo biloba2012n=27
In a crossover study of 38 tinnitus patients, clonazepam reduced tinnitus severity but Ginkgo biloba 40 mg/day for 3 weeks did not.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 3 weeks
- Dose
- 40 mg/day
- Population
- Tinnitus patients
- Participants
- 27
- Ages
- 16–80
MetaGinkgo biloba does not benefit patients with tinnitus: a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind trial and meta-analysis of randomized trials2004n=31
A meta-analysis of 6 double-blind RCTs found Ginkgo biloba did not improve tinnitus handicap or loudness scores versus placebo.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 31
RCTThe efficacy of Ginkgo special extract EGb 761 in patients with tinnitus2002n=60
In an RCT of 60 chronic tinnitus patients, EGb 761 infusion then 160 mg/day oral treatment for 12 weeks reduced tinnitus volume in the more affected ear versus placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Dose
- 160 mg/day
- Population
- Tinnitus patients
- Participants
- 60
RCTEffectiveness of Ginkgo biloba in treating tinnitus: double blind, placebo controlled trial2001n=978
In a double-blind postal RCT of 978 adults with tinnitus, Ginkgo biloba 150 mg/day for 12 weeks did not reduce tinnitus loudness or distress versus placebo.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Dose
- 150 mg/day
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 978
- Ages
- 18–70
Ginkgo biloba extract: mechanisms and clinical indications2000
A narrative review concluded Ginkgo biloba may help cognitive and vascular symptoms in some conditions, but clinical evidence remained mixed across indications.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Population
- Dementia patients
RCTGinkgo biloba extract for the treatment of tinnitus1994n=80
In an open study of 80 tinnitus patients followed by a double-blind phase in 20 responders, Ginkgo biloba did not outperform placebo on tinnitus outcomes.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 80
RCT[Multicenter randomized double-blind drug vs. placebo study of the treatment of tinnitus with Ginkgo biloba extract]1986
In a 13-month multicenter double-blind RCT of 103 tinnitus patients, Ginkgo biloba extract improved tinnitus severity across prognostic subgroups versus placebo.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 13 months
- Population
- Tinnitus patients
Alpha-Lipoic AcidView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- It is uncertain whether alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) helps with tinnitus.
- In a small study of people with tinnitus caused by cochlear problems and metabolic syndrome, taking 600 mg of ALA daily for 60 days improved hearing test results and reduced the overall impact of tinnitus, especially its effect on daily function and emotions.
- However, ALA did not help those with tinnitus caused by nerve damage.
- The study didn’t compare ALA to a placebo, so results should be viewed with caution.
Browse 1 study
Clinical trialThe Effect of Alpha-Lipoic Acid in the Treatment of Chronic Subjective Tinnitus through the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory Scores2023n=50
In 50 tinnitus patients, alpha-lipoic acid 600 mg/day for 2 months improved THI functional and emotional subscales and loudness in metabolic-syndrome-related tinnitus (group A) but not in acoustic nerve lesion cases.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 2 months
- Dose
- 600 mg/day
- Population
- Adults
- Participants
- 50
- Avg age
- ~61.7
AstragalusView supplement →
Reconsider purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- Some early studies suggest that astragalus injections may help reduce tinnitus and improve hearing in people with sudden acoustic trauma.
Browse 1 study
Clinical trialRadix Astragali injection enhances recovery from acute acoustic trauma2011n=40
A clinical trial in 80 ears with acute acoustic trauma found 10 days of intravenous astragalus improved hearing recovery and tinnitus resolution versus non-astragalus treatment (27 vs 21 ears regained normal hearing).
- Effect
- Benefit
- Duration
- 10 days
- Population
- Acute acoustic trauma patients
- Participants
- 40
CaffeineView supplement →
Do not purchase·★★★★★
How we scored this▸
- There is insufficient evidence that caffeine benefits tinnitus.
Browse 4 studies
RCTThe effect of caffeine on tinnitus: Randomized triple-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial2021n=80
An RCT of 80 chronic tinnitus patients found 300 mg caffeine did not significantly change tinnitus psychoacoustic measures or discomfort vs placebo, though mood scores shifted after caffeine.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Dose
- 300 mg
- Population
- Tinnitus patients
- Participants
- 80
ObservationalTinnitus features according to caffeine consumption2021n=140
A case-control study of 282 tinnitus patients and 140 controls found high caffeine intake was not linked to tinnitus features; lower-caffeine tinnitus patients reported slightly higher distress on VAS.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Population
- Tinnitus patients
- Participants
- 140
ObservationalDoes Caffeine Intake Increase the Incidence of Tinnitus? A Systematic Review2020n=2,268
A systematic review of 4 studies concluded evidence on caffeine and new tinnitus is inconclusive; two population studies reported inverse associations while preexisting tinnitus outcomes varied by dose.
- Effect
- No Benefit
- Dose
- 150–299 mg/day
- Population
- Tinnitus patients
- Participants
- 2,268
- Ages
- 40–69
ObservationalA prospective study of caffeine intake and risk of incident tinnitus2014n=80
In 65,085 women followed 18 years, higher caffeine intake was inversely associated with incident tinnitus (HR 0.79 for ≥600 mg/day vs <150 mg/day); 5,289 new cases occurred.
- Effect
- Benefit
- Dose
- 300 mg
- Population
- Women
- Participants
- 80
- Ages
- 30–44
Evidence visualised
Same ratings as above, aggregated so you can see coverage and imbalance.
| Supplement | DEX | Studies | Meta-analyses | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ginkgo | ★★★★★44% | 11 | 2 | 44% |
| Melatonin | ★★★★★68% | 7 | 0 | 28% |
| Caffeine | ★★★★★36% | 4 | 0 | 16% |
| Acai | ★★★★★44% | 1 | 0 | 4% |
| Alpha-Lipoic Acid | ★★★★★40% | 1 | 0 | 4% |
| Astragalus | ★★★★★40% | 1 | 0 | 4% |