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Updated: Sep 16, 2025

A Free-breathing fMRI Method to Study Human Olfactory Function
Published on: July 30, 2017
Efficacy of Omega-3 supplementation in olfactory dysfunction: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Raghad S Alzahrani1,2, Taif F Alkhatabi3,4, Abdulaziz F Bokhari3,4
1College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Raghdsaleh937@gmail.com.
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.
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