Axons are usually surrounded by a fatty substance called myelin. Myelin allows action potentials to propagate quickly from one neuron to another, allowing for rapid signal transmission. It is a critical part of the nervous system and it's absence has devastating effects, as seen in conditions such as multiple sclerosis.
Researchers have found that patients with low levels of folate in their blood are more likely to develop hearing loss (Gok 2004; Lasisi 2010; Gopinath 2010), and that low vitamin B12 levels are associated with hearing loss (Gok 2004) and tinnitus (Shemesh 1993).
DAILY VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS FOR HEARING LOSS. 1  Ear, nose, and throat specialists will sometimes recommend up to 300 milligrams of niacin (vitamin B3) to increase blood flow to the microcapillaries of the inner ear, which feed the auditory nerve. Taking niacin can cause a heat flush lasting for about 30 minutes. N-acetylcysteine (NAC; 500 milligrams) may help prevent hearing loss-this is especially useful for people who are constantly exposed to loud noise. Taking folate (folic acid; 400 micrograms) on a daily basis has been shown to slow hearing loss.[1][2]