What Vitamin Restores Sense of Smell? A Look at Key Nutrients and Therapies

October 27, 2025 •

4 min read

Around 15-50% of people experience a decline in their sense of smell following an upper respiratory illness, such as a cold or COVID-19. For those dealing with persistent issues, understanding what vitamin restores sense of smell is a common question, with several nutrients playing a supportive role.

Quick Summary

Several vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin A, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, and Zinc, are linked to healthy olfactory function. Correcting nutritional deficiencies may improve smell, especially when combined with other therapies like olfactory training, though individual results can vary depending on the cause of smell loss.

Key Points

Vitamin A's Role: Vitamin A is vital for the health and regeneration of the epithelial tissue in the nose, which is often damaged by viral infections.
Zinc Deficiency: A deficiency in the mineral Zinc is a known cause of impaired smell and taste, as it is essential for olfactory receptor function.
B12 for Nerves: Vitamin B12 is crucial for maintaining the health of the nervous system, including the olfactory nerve pathways, and deficiencies can contribute to smell loss.
Olfactory Training: For post-viral smell loss, olfactory training (sniffing specific scents daily) is a well-supported therapy that retrains the brain's connection to smell.
Professional Guidance: Before starting any supplementation, it is important to consult a healthcare provider to determine the root cause of smell loss and receive a proper treatment plan.
Holistic Approach: The most effective recovery often involves a combination of addressing potential nutrient deficiencies, engaging in regular olfactory training, and maintaining a nutrient-rich diet.

The Complex Connection Between Vitamins and Olfaction

Loss of smell, or anosmia, and reduced smell, hyposmia, can significantly impact quality of life, affecting everything from appetite to safety awareness. While often caused by viral infections, head trauma, or aging, nutritional deficiencies can also be a contributing factor. Restoring a damaged sense of smell is not always as simple as taking a single supplement, but certain vitamins and minerals are critical for the health of the olfactory system and may aid in recovery. The olfactory system, responsible for our sense of smell, includes the nerves and tissues in the nose that detect odor molecules and send signals to the brain. The body’s ability to regenerate and repair these sensitive tissues is influenced by its nutritional status.

Key Nutrients and Their Role in Smell Restoration

Vitamin A: Crucial for Nasal Tissue Health

Vitamin A, specifically in the form of retinoic acid, is essential for the healthy function of epithelial tissues, including the delicate lining of the nose where olfactory sensory neurons are located.

Tissue regeneration: It plays a significant role in the regeneration of olfactory neuroepithelium, which is often damaged after a viral infection.
Clinical trials: Research, including a 2021 UK trial and a 2017 study, has explored the use of intranasal vitamin A drops for post-viral smell loss, with some evidence suggesting potential benefits for healing the olfactory pathways.

Vitamin B12: Supporting Olfactory Nerve Function

This vital B vitamin is a powerhouse for the nervous system, and a deficiency has been linked to neurological symptoms, including olfactory dysfunction.

Nerve health: Vitamin B12 is involved in the formation of the myelin sheath, which insulates nerve fibers. Damage to the olfactory nerve's myelin can disrupt smell signaling.
Homocysteine regulation: It helps metabolize homocysteine, high levels of which can damage the olfactory bulb. A 2023 study found that Vitamin B12 treatment significantly improved olfactory function in patients with a deficiency.

Zinc: A Mineral Essential for Sensory Perception

Zinc is a trace mineral with significant involvement in maintaining the body's senses of smell and taste.

Cell regeneration: It is required for the regeneration and function of olfactory ensheathing cells, which support the neuroplasticity of the olfactory bulb.
Deficiency link: A deficiency in zinc is known to cause a decreased sense of smell and taste. Multiple studies have demonstrated improved olfactory function in patients with zinc deficiency after supplementation.

Vitamin D: Potential Anti-inflammatory Benefits

Emerging research indicates Vitamin D's role extends beyond bone health to the immune system and nervous system.

Neuroprotective effects: Vitamin D receptors are found in the olfactory network, where the vitamin acts as a neurosteroid hormone.
Case studies: Case reports have noted improved olfaction in individuals with low vitamin D levels after supplementation.
Inflammation reduction: Recent research from the University of Florida is exploring intranasal Vitamin D's potential to reduce inflammation in the nasal passages following a viral infection, showing promise in mouse studies.

Beyond Vitamins: Other Treatments for Smell Loss

For many, especially those who have lost their sense of smell due to a virus or head trauma, addressing nutrient deficiencies is just one part of a multi-faceted approach. Olfactory training has proven to be a simple yet effective therapy.

The Power of Olfactory Training

Olfactory training is a form of 'physiotherapy for the nose' that aims to retrain the brain's ability to recognize and interpret odors.

How it works: It involves sniffing a set of strong, familiar essential oils (e.g., rose, lemon, clove, eucalyptus) twice a day for several months, while actively concentrating on recalling the smell.
Research support: Studies have shown that olfactory training can produce significant improvements in smell, particularly for those with post-viral loss. It is often more effective than supplemental treatments alone, especially for post-COVID anosmia.

Comparison of Vitamins for Olfactory Function


Nutrient	Primary Function in Olfaction	Evidence for Restoration	Food Sources
Vitamin A	Supports epithelial tissue health, promotes regeneration of nasal tissue.	Promising results with intranasal drops in post-viral cases.	Animal liver, leafy greens, orange vegetables.
Vitamin B12	Crucial for nervous system function, protects olfactory nerves from damage.	Deficiency treatment showed significant olfactory improvement in studies.	Meat, fish, fortified cereals, dairy.
Zinc	Required for olfactory receptor regeneration and nerve signal transmission.	Associated with improved olfaction in deficient patients.	Red meat, seeds, seafood, poultry.
Vitamin D	Anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects on the nervous system.	Promising animal studies for intranasal application; case reports for oral supplementation.	Sunlight exposure, fatty fish, fortified milk.

What to Consider Before Supplementing

Before starting any supplement regimen to address a loss of smell, it is crucial to consult a healthcare provider. While nutritional deficiencies can play a role, there are many other potential causes of anosmia that require professional diagnosis. Over-supplementation can be harmful, and it's essential to understand the underlying cause. For example, nasal polyps or head trauma would not be cured by vitamins alone. A doctor can perform proper testing, including measuring blood levels of suspected nutrient deficiencies, to determine the most appropriate course of action.

Conclusion: A Holistic Approach to Restoring Smell

Restoring the sense of smell is a multi-faceted process that depends heavily on the root cause of the dysfunction. While no single vitamin serves as a guaranteed cure, evidence suggests that maintaining healthy levels of Vitamin A, Vitamin B12, Zinc, and Vitamin D can support the health of the olfactory system and may aid recovery, especially when a deficiency is present. However, the most consistent and recommended therapeutic approach for post-viral smell loss is olfactory training, which harnesses the brain's neuroplasticity to retrain the pathways responsible for smell perception. A comprehensive approach, combining nutritional support with proven rehabilitation techniques like smell training, under the guidance of a healthcare professional, offers the best chance for recovery for many individuals struggling with loss of smell.

For more information on olfactory training, visit the ENT Health website: enthealth.org/be_ent_smart/smell-retraining-therapy/.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, significant deficiencies in certain vitamins and minerals, particularly zinc and Vitamin B12, have been directly linked to olfactory dysfunction, which can manifest as a complete loss of smell (anosmia).

There is no single 'best' vitamin. The most effective nutrient depends on the underlying cause of your smell loss. Vitamin A, B12, Zinc, and Vitamin D all play different but important roles in olfactory health.

The timeline varies depending on the individual, the severity of the deficiency, and the cause of the smell loss. Clinical studies using supplements have shown improvement over several months, often in conjunction with other treatments like olfactory training.

For post-viral smell loss, robust clinical evidence suggests that olfactory training is a highly effective, low-cost therapy that directly stimulates the brain's neuroplasticity to improve smell. Supplements are typically most beneficial if there is a diagnosed nutritional deficiency.

While promising, intranasal vitamin A treatments are still being investigated and require further research to confirm effectiveness and safety in a clinical setting. Always consult a doctor before using any nasal drops or supplements.

A multivitamin can help address general nutritional shortfalls, but studies on multivitamins alone have not consistently shown significant improvement compared to therapies like olfactory training. It is best to target specific deficiencies identified by a healthcare provider.

A balanced, nutrient-rich diet can support overall olfactory health. Include foods rich in zinc (meat, seeds), Vitamin A (leafy greens, liver), Vitamin B12 (fish, fortified cereals), and Vitamin D (fatty fish, fortified dairy).

Yes, a healthcare provider can conduct blood tests to check for deficiencies in key nutrients like Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, and zinc to help determine if a nutritional cause is contributing to your smell loss.