Long Covid and Anosmia 

By John V. Schloss  

Professor, Chair of Pharmaceutical Science, Associate Dean of Research 

American University of Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy; Signal Hill, CA, 90755, USA. 

In their article on the neurological symptoms resulting from COVID-19, S. Spudich and A. Nath (“Nervous system consequences of COVID-19,” Perspectives, 20 January 2022, p. 267) highlight a need to understand the underlying pathophysiology. Following infection by SARS-CoV-2, a wide range of symptoms can persist for months, known as Long Covid (1). Neurological symptoms of Long Covid include anosmia (loss of smell), depression, and impaired cognition (1, 2). Localized zinc deficiency may explain COVID-19-induced anosmia (3, 4). Zinc therapy dramatically shortens the duration of COVID-19-induced anosmia, but not all other symptoms (5). The gene for the odorant-metabolizing enzyme UDP-glucuronosyltransferase is linked to anosmia and is dramatically elevated by low zinc (6, 7). Suboptimal zinc produces Th2 cytokines; down-regulates the olfactory-essential zinc-carbonic anhydrase; and lowers type 1 interferon expression without the need for viral destruction of olfactory neurons (3, 7, 8). Other neurological symptoms, such as impaired cognition and depression, are also associated with inadequate zinc levels (9, 10). Although insufficient zinc can play an essential role in COVID-19 disease, other vital nutrients are crucial to immune response and disease progression. Lack of either zinc or selenium correlate with the morbidity and mortality of SARS-CoV-2 infection (11, 12). Up to 83% of individuals are deficient in two-or-more essential nutrients for lymphocyte-mediated immune response, 33% have inadequate zinc, and 25% of the general population lack five or more critical dietary factors (10, 13). Selenium, zinc, and other micronutrients are necessary to shorten the duration of Long Covid (14). Determining the importance of nutritional deficiencies should be a major focus in our quest to understand Long Covid. 

References and Notes 

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14. L. Schomburg, Selenium deficiency in COVID-19—A possible long-lasting toxic relationship. Nutrients 14, 283 (2022). doi: 10.3390/nu14020283