Abstract

Background

Olfactory dysfunction (OD) significantly impacts patients’ quality of life, yet effective treatments are limited. Omega-3 fatty acids have shown promise in improving olfactory function, but further research is needed to evaluate their efficacy.

Aims/Objectives

This systematic review aimed to assess the effects of omega-3 supplementation on OD.

Methods

A comprehensive search identified randomized controlled trials investigating omega-3 supplementation in OD patients. Inclusion criteria involved adult patients receiving omega-3 fatty acids and undergoing olfactory function assessments.

Results

Three studies with 175 participants were included. Two studies reported omega-3’s protective effect against olfactory loss over three months. However, a trial on COVID-19 patients found no significant improvement in olfactory function.

Conclusions

Omega-3 supplementation, along with olfactory training or nasal rinses, appears to improve olfactory function in OD patients. However, further research is needed to evaluate its standalone efficacy. Omega-3 fatty acids offer a potential therapy for OD, warranting optimization and long-term effects investigation.

Details

Title
Efficacy of Omega-3 supplementation in olfactory dysfunction: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Author
Alzahrani, Raghad S; Alkhatabi, Taif F; Bokhari, Abdulaziz F; Ismail, Wed M; Alyamani, Abdullah S; Ali S. Alsudaisssam AlRajhi; Almutairi, Dakheelallah M
Pages
1-8
Section
Systematic Review
Publication year
2025
Publication date
2025
Publisher
BioMed Central
e-ISSN
20550928
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3227646787
Copyright
© 2025. This work is licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.