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DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1755311
Relation between Vitamin B12 Levels and Smell Affection in COVID-19 Patients
Abstract
Introduction Olfactory and gustative alterations are frequent in the initial stages of the COVID-19 infection. Vitamin B12 deficiency has been linked to olfactory dysfunction.
Objective The present study aimed to assess the relationship between vitamin B12 levels and smell affection in COVID-19 patients.
Methods The present study included 201 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 patients. Smell affection was assessed using self-rated olfactory function. Serum vitamin B12 levels were assessed using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits.
Results According to the smell function assessment, the patients were classified into three categories: normal osmesis (n = 77), hyposmia (n = 49), and anosmia (n = 75) ([Fig. 1]). Four weeks later, 195 patients (97.0%) had their normal smell function restored. The remainder 6 patients included 4 anosmic and 2 hyposmic patients. Patients with hyposmia or anosmia had significantly lower vitamin B12 levels when compared with patients with normal osmesis (median [IQR]: 363.0 [198.0–539.0] versus 337.0 [175.0–467.0] and 491.0 [364.5–584.5] pg/ml, respectively, p < 0.001).
Conclusion Vitamin B12 appears to have some contribution to smell affection in patients with COVID-19 infection.
Publication History
Received: 09 October 2021
Accepted: 28 June 2022
Article published online:
16 November 2022
© 2022. Fundação Otorrinolaringologia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commecial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
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