Loss of sense of smell and taste is a classic symptom of zinc deficiency. Considering the article, it may have other effects, as well.
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https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7082716/
Zinc, the brain and behavior
C C Pfeiffer, E R Braverman
PMID: 7082716
Abstract
The total content of zinc in the adult human body averages almost 2 g. This is approximately half the total iron content and 10 to 15 times the total body copper. In the brain, zinc is with iron, the most concentrated metal. The highest levels of zinc are found in the hippocampus in synaptic vesicles, boutons, and mossy fibers. Zinc is also found in large concentrations in the choroid layer of the retina which is an extension of the brain. Zinc plays an important role in axonal and synaptic transmission and is necessary for nucleic acid metabolism and brain tubulin growth and phosphorylation. Lack of zinc has been implicated in impaired DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis during brain development. For these reasons, deficiency of zinc during pregnancy and lactation has been shown to be related to many congenital abnormalities of the nervous system in offspring. Furthermore, in children insufficient levels of zinc have been associated with lowered learning ability, apathy, lethargy, and mental retardation. Hyperactive children may be deficient in zinc and vitamin B-6 and have an excess of lead and copper. Alcoholism, schizophrenia, Wilson’s disease, and Pick’s disease are brain disorders dynamically related to zinc levels. Zinc has been employed with success to treat Wilson’s disease, achrodermatitis enteropathica, and specific types of schizophrenia.
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MeSH terms
Animals
Behavior, Animal / physiology*
Brain / metabolism*
Copper / metabolism
Female
Hippocampus / metabolism
Histamine / metabolism
Hormones / blood
Humans
Iron / metabolism
Magnesium / metabolism
Neural Conduction
Pregnancy
Retina / metabolism
Schizophrenia / metabolism
Taste / physiology
Zinc / deficiency
Zinc / metabolism*
Substances
Hormones
Copper
Histamine
Iron
Magnesium
Zinc
Related information
MedGen
PubChem Compound (MeSH Keyword)
Thanks. I get a good amount of zinc from my diet; also have been taking a zinc supplement for awhile, just in case.:)
Still have very little sense of smell 4 months later. Took zinc and quercitin the entire time I had covid.
Believe there are other lingering residual affects too.