Scurvy

What is it?

• A condition of severe vitamin C deficiency in the body over a long time

Main causes

• Vitamin C cannot be human-synthesized it comes from an external food source usually fruit and vegetables

• Diet

  • If your diet lacks vitamin C there will be an increased risk of developing this disease

  • E.g not eating fruits and vegetables

• Restrictive diets, due to allergies

  • Limitations to diets can impact the amount of vitamin C consumed

Symptoms

• Gum disease and loss of teeth

  • The deficiency of vitamin C causes the gums to become unhealthy hence the disease and the loss of teeth

• Poor wound healing

  • Vitamin C is essential for wound healing, therefore a lack of the vitamin results in poor wound healing

• Swelling

  • Scurvy causes a lack of collagen which causes the skin to swell and become soft

Dietary/lifestyle choices to prevent

• Food and vegetables

  • The main sources of vitamin C are fruits and vegetable 

  • Eating more food that contains vitamin C will prevent this deficiency 

  • Fruits; oranges, lemons, strawberries

  • Vegetables; tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli

• Vitamin C supplements

  • Consuming vitamin C tablets will help ensure the body is receiving the required amount of vitamin

• Reducing smoking

  • Smoking restricts the amount of vitamin C that your body can take it gets from food

Main treatments

• Vitamin C oral supplements

  • Vitamin C supplements consumed to improve levels usually see results between a couple of weeks and a few months

• Diet

  • Adding more foods with vitamin C to increase the levels (oranges, lemons, strawberries, broccoli, potatoes and tomatoes

• Vitamin C injections

  • It helps to raise vitamin C levels a lot more quickly and in case absorption of vitamin C through food or oral supplements doesn't work