What is Scurvy?

Oct. 25, 2024

A once-common ailment from the 15th century, scurvy, is making an unexpected comeback in the 21st century.

About Scurvy:

It is a disease caused by a significant lack of vitamin C (ascorbic acid)in the diet.
Scurvy has been known since ancient Greek and Egyptian times.
Causes:
- Humans cannot synthesize vitamin C. It needs to come from external food sources, especially fruits and vegetables or fortified foods.
- Thus, scurvy is caused by not eating enough fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Also, cooking destroys some of the vitamin C found in food.
Symptoms:
- It can include anemia, exhaustion, spontaneous bleeding, limb pain, swelling, and sometimes ulceration of the gums and loss of teeth.
- It can be fatal if left untreated.
Treatment: It is treatable with oral or intravenous vitamin C supplements.

Importance of Vitamin C:

It’s responsible for the development, growth, and healing of your skin, bones, and connective tissue.
In addition, you need vitamin C for your blood vessels to function properly.
Vitamin C helps maintain your teeth and gums.
It helps your body absorb iron, which it needs to make red blood cells.
Vitamin C also helps heal burns and other wounds.
Vitamin C is an antioxidant, meaning it protects your cells against damage from free radicals.
- Free radicals are byproducts of normal cell activity which participate in chemical reactions within cells. Some of these reactions can cause damage over your lifetime.