DEAR DR. BLONZ: Please tell me if anything related to diet can cause a ringing in my right ear. It is a low, steady ring that is more noticeable at night when everything is quiet. I dont work around loud noises, nor have I worn ear buds blaring with loud music. I also havent had any colds or sicknesses for at least a couple of months. I just have this noise that I am told is called tinnitus. In addition to being pregnant, about the only thing that has been different is that I have been eating more and taking a prenatal dietary supplement that was recommended by my doctor. Could this be a factor?

— E.A., Arlington Park, Ill.

DEAR E.A.: The prenatal dietary supplement is unlikely to be responsible. The diet is a questionable cause as well, but given the nature of tinnitus, there is little I can say about causes and solutions with any degree of certainty. The August 1993 issue of Clinical Otolaryngology did report an increased prevalence of tinnitus during pregnancy, but first, heres a bit more about this condition.

Normally, external sound vibrations strike the eardrum, causing it to vibrate. The vibrations are conducted through a series of bones that eventually lead to the acoustic nerve, where they are converted into electrical signals.

With tinnitus, something inside the head causes the acoustic nerve to fire when no external sound source exists. Such a situation might be brought on by an inflammation or infection; a problem with high or low blood pressure; allergies; diabetes; a side effect of medication; malfunctions with the inner ear, such as otosclerosis, which is an overgrowth of the inner ear bones; pressure from abnormal tissue; or the actions of a toxic agent.

Tinnitus can be a symptom of an underlying problem, which is why it is important to report it to your physician. The treatment, if any, depends on the cause. In your case, your health professionals can decide whether it would be appropriate to review your choice of dietary supplements, make some other adjustment, or have your condition checked by an ear specialist.