Using Zinc for Loss of Taste and Smell

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Zinc is essential for smell and taste. Can we use Zinc for loss of taste and smell after Covid or other medical problems?

We’ve known for decades that Zinc is important for taste and smell neurology as well as the Immune System, Prostate and Pancreas.

Can we recover smell after Covid?

COVID Loss of Taste and Smell

• Loss of smell and taste can be strong early warnings of infection, perhaps more important than fever or low oxygen.
• If your taste and smell suddenly disappear, get tested immediately and isolate.
• Studies such as this one from the European Journal of Neurology confirm these are Covid symptoms.

Many patients report recovery of smell and taste quickly with “light” cases of Covid. Others report slower recovery.

Can Zinc help recovery from the illness as well as these symptoms?

Zinc and Stem Cells in Nose and Mouth

Olfactory (nasal) cells communicate to brain and nervous system receptor cells about what we breathe. Taste bud receptors on the tongue perform similar duties, telling the brain if the “food” may be safe (not a blatant poison) and how it tastes.

These receptor cells are short-lived. Stem Cells hover nearby to replace them.

Here’s where Zinc comes in: it helps Stem Cells replace used, aged or damaged receptor cells in the nose and mouth.

Long Covid Damage to Oral and Nasal Epithelial Cells

Why do we get swabbed in the nose?  The virus tends to inhabit and damage nasal receptor cells.

Studies suggest that the rapid infection and damage of nasal and oral cells in Covid is too high for available stores of Zinc and Stem Cells to keep up, causing loss of taste and smell.

Can Zinc Help Covid Loss Of Taste and Smell?

• Many studies find Zinc deficiency before Covid is common in those who lose their sense of smell and taste after Covid.
• Zinc plays a key role in immune function and can help reduce severity of illness
• Additionally, Zinc is shown to help recover taste and smell loss from colds, flu and other sinus and respiratory infections.
• READ DOSAGE INFO below before you start extra Zinc for Covid

Zinc Dosage for Women

• Women can safely take 15 mg. Zinc Bisglycinate daily long-term.
• If you are exposed or ill with Covid or long Covid, increase to 25 – 50 mg. daily with food.
• Take Zinc AWAY from Iron and Copper if possible (see below).
• The TYPE of Zinc is important. Zinc Oxide has poor bioavailability. I prefer this Zinc BisGlycinate. It has 5 – 10 times better/higher availability for the “same” dose.

After 2 weeks on the higher dose, if recovering well, go back to 15 – 20 mg. daily for a few months. If not recovering well, stay at 40 – 50 for another month and re-evaluate. Remember that Zinc is essential for Immune Function too.

Do not take 50 mg Zinc long-term. It can make you Iron anemic.

CHILDREN: half doses  Young children, less.

Zinc Dosage for Males

• Adult men can safely take 30 – 50 mg. Zinc long-term as the Prostate uses it daily..
• If ill or suspecting Covid exposure, increase for 2 weeks to 75 – 100 before dropping back. Or, as for women, stay high a little longer. 

Do NOT take 100 mg. Zinc long-term, especially if you are an athlete or heavy exerciser (They tend to be low on Iron. Check Ferritin levels annually. See my articles on Ferritin).

CHILDREN:  half doses.  Young children, less.

What Type of Zinc is Best?

1. In my Clinic and Online Store I carry Zinc BisGlycinate and Zinc Picolinate.
2. Absorbability is good with these.
3. That’s a key to all professional brands of minerals.
4. Oxides are poor absorbers.
5. Just because it says 15 mg. does not mean you get that much out of it.
6. BisGlycinate from TRACCS Chelate is the most absorbable, then Zinc Picolinate.
7. Here’s my Zinc BisGlycinate. 15 mg.

Taking Zinc Affects Iron and Copper too

Like all supplements, understand WHAT you are taking and why. DO NOT TAKE EXCESS ZINC long-term.

Why??

Zinc, Iron and Copper form a triangle. Change one and you change the others. If you are a woman with heavy monthly cycles, you may already be borderline Iron anemic. Zinc and copper can bind Iron. It’s OK to take high Zinc if fighting Covid or at first sign you are ill. Don’t take Iron during this time.

Men need more Zinc than women as the Prostate uses Zinc. Men seldom have low iron as they don’t bleed. Men seldom need Iron in their Multis. A good multi helps provide balanced nutrients for Covid and the immune system. This one is Iron-Free. 

Post-menopausal women do not need Iron as a rule. They can accumulate excess Iron over the following decades and damage the Liver.