For years, the longstanding medical treatment for inflammation-related lost sense of smell was to prescribe oral vitamin D supplements.

But sometimes you just have to turn convention on its head.

Researchers at the University of Florida and Northwestern University, in a study published earlier this year, reduced nasal inflammation and improved the sense of smell in mice by using a vitamin D nasal spray.

The inflammation was caused by cigarette smoke. But the researchers said the potential treatment, an active form of vitamin D called calcitriol [kal-suh-tray-ahl] might be effective for treating nasal inflammation caused by other conditions, including COVID-19.

Although the study involved an animal model, researchers noted that their previous work using human tissue bolsters confidence that the treatment might work for people, too. There remain years of research ahead, including potential human trials.

Previous studies have shown that vitamin D is deficient in smokers’ nasal tissue.

In the recent study, the mice received intranasal treatment three times a week for one month. When placed in a maze, the treated mice avoided areas with an unpleasant smell. The unstreated mice didn’t notice the odor at all.

CT scans confirmed that the treated mice had much less nasal tissue blockage than their untreated counterparts.

If the spray can be used in humans, it would vastly improve treatment options, which are limited mostly to supplements, surgery or pricey lab-produced antibodies.

And it would improve quality of life for those who miss catching a whiff of gardenia, garlic and onion sizzling in a pan or cookies coming out of the oven.