What deficiency is associated with poor wound healing and loss of taste and smell?

The deficiency associated with poor wound healing and loss of taste and smell is zinc. Zinc plays a crucial role in various biological processes, including cell division, protein synthesis, and immune function. It is an important cofactor for many enzymes that facilitate wound healing, and its deficiency can delay the healing process by impairing the proliferation of fibroblasts and keratinocytes, which are essential for tissue repair.

Additionally, zinc is vital for maintaining proper sensory function, and individuals with zinc deficiency often experience taste abnormalities (dysgeusia) and smell disturbances (hyposmia or anosmia). These symptoms arise because zinc is involved in the maintenance of taste buds and olfactory functions.

In contrast, while vitamin C is important for collagen synthesis and wound healing, its deficiency primarily leads to scurvy, which is characterized by other specific symptoms rather than loss of taste and smell. Iron deficiency can lead to anemia and fatigue but does not specifically cause the aforementioned symptoms. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with bone health, but not directly with wound healing or sensory loss. Thus, the connection of zinc deficiency to the clinical presentation described makes it the correct answer.