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Vitamin D and smell impairment: a systematic literature review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2022

W W Ang Open the ORCID record for W W Ang [Opens in a new window] ,
E T Goh ,
K Lai  and
I McKay-Davies
W W Ang*
Affiliation:
ENT, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, London, UK
E T Goh
Affiliation:
General Surgery, Royal London Hospital, London, UK
K Lai
Affiliation:
ENT, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, London, UK
I McKay-Davies
Affiliation:
ENT, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust, London, UK
*
Corresponding author: Miss Wan Wei Ang; Email: wanwei.ang@nhs.net
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Abstract

Objective

Smell impairment affects 60–80 per cent of individuals aged over 80 years. This review aimed to identify any association between vitamin D deficiency and smell impairment, and determine the efficacy of vitamin D to treat smell impairment.

Methods

A literature search was conducted across four databases between the years 2000 and 2022. The literature screen was performed by two independent reviewers.

Results

Seven articles were included in this review. Four studies examined the association between vitamin D deficiency and smell impairment, with three studies identifying a significant relationship. Three studies investigated the use of vitamin D as treatment for smell impairment, which found complete resolution or significant symptom improvement after vitamin D deficiency was treated.

Conclusion

This review identified limited studies on this topic. As vitamin D supplementation is relatively cost-efficient, further large-scale studies should be carried out to investigate the efficacy of vitamin D for treating anosmia.

Keywords

SmellVitamin DSystematic reviewEvidence-based medicineCoronavirus
Type
Review Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 137 , Issue 9 , September 2023 , pp. 971 - 976
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of J.L.O. (1984) LIMITED

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Footnotes

Miss W W Ang takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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