Covid-19: If you lost your taste and smell it could actually be a good thing

If you belong to the group of people who lost their sense of taste or smell due to Covid-19, you may have an easier time fighting off the virus in the future. A new study suggests that people who experienced anosmia when they were infected with the virus had twice the number of neutralizing antibodies compared to people who also got the virus but could still smell and taste normally, new research shows.

The last laugh?

The study conducted in 2020 in New York City, was based on an analysis of antibodies from 266 people at least two weeks after their symptoms were mostly gone, and they no longer showed signs of active infection, according to Everyday Health.

None of the subjects had experienced severe cases, or had any signs of acute infection when they were tested for antibodies, neither did they have lingering symptoms other than a potential loss of taste or smell. The researchers wrote in the journal, PLoS One:

Results from our study suggest that loss of smell and taste during Covid infection are strong predictive factors for a robust immunologic response.

The study

The antibody levels of the participants were compared to the levels in people who reported no impact from Covid-19 on their sense of smell or taste. Overall, almost two-thirds of the group reported either an impaired sense of smell or taste, and 58 percent said both senses were altered by the virus.

Compared with people who never lost their sense of taste or smell, those who did were roughly twice as likely to test positive for virus-fighting antibodies, the researchers wrote adding:

Additional research is needed to address the durability of seropositivity among these individuals.

Sources used:

Daily Mail: Did Covid rob you of your taste or smell? It might mean you've got strong immunity

Everyday Health: Losing Taste And Smell Due to COVID-19 Tied to Lower Reinfection Risk

Web MD: Loss of Taste, Smell From COVID Linked to High Antibody Levels