What is Scurvy?
Definition Scurvy is a condition caused by a lack of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) in the diet. Signs of scurvy include tiredness, muscle weakness, joint and muscle aches, a rash on the legs, and bleeding gums. In the past, scurvy was common among sailors and other people deprived of fresh fruits and vegetables for long periods of time. Description Scurvy is very rare in countries where fresh fruits and vegetables are readily available and where processed foods have vitamin C added. Vitamin C is an important antioxidant vitamin involved in the development of connective tissues, lipid and vitamin metabolism, biosynthesis of neurotransmitters, immune function, and wound healing. It is found in fruits, especially citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and grapefruit, and in green leafy vegetables like broccoli and spinach. In adults, it may take several months of vitamin C deficiency before symptoms of scurvy develop. Currently, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for vitamin C is 50–60 mg/d
Scurvy is nothing more than a serious deficiency of vitamin C and leads to the formation of livid spots on the skin, spongy gums and bleeding from almost all mucous membranes. Vitamin C is essential for the body to manufacture collagen, the connective tissue that helps form healthy bones, teeth, and capillaries, and promotes wound healing. The spots are most abundant on the thighs and legs, and a person with the ailment looks pale, feels depressed, and is partially immobilized. it’s easily corrected with supplements . There are two forms of scurvy: adult and infantile. It is characterized by bleeding under the skin, and extreme weakness.
Scurvy, also called vitamin C deficiency, is of the most serious diseases affecting teenagers today. It is caused by a dietary lack of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), a nutrient found in many fresh fruits and vegetables, particularly the citrus fruits. Ascorbic acid is important in the formation of collagen (an element of normal tissues), and any deficiency interferes with normal tissue synthesis. • How can I tell if I have scurvy? Scurvy is characterized by swollen and bleeding gums with loosened teeth, soreness and stiffness of the joints and lower extremities, bleeding under the skin and in deep tissues, slow wound healing, and anemia. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should consult a physician immediately — you may be suffering from scurvy. Here are pictures of some of the scurvy “warning signs”. Gingival Hemorrhage Corkscrew Hair Periungual Hemorrhage • So what’s so special about this ascorbic acid stuff anyway? When collagen is made, the proline amino acids are changed to
Scurvy, also known as scorbutus, is a medical condition caused by a lack of vitamin C. Left untreated, scurvy can be fatal, but fortunately this condition is extremely easy to address, as all that is required to eliminate scurvy is an increase of vitamin C intake. Scurvy is relatively rare in the modern era, thanks to widespread knowledge about the need for vitamin C, but it sometimes appears in malnourished individuals, infants, and the elderly. The history of this disease is ancient. Historically, it was often seen in travelers and mariners, both of whom lacked access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Hippocrates wrote about scurvy, indicating that he was familiar with it, and in the Age of Exploration, scurvy was a very serious problem among sailors and passengers on board ships. In the 1700s, a researcher named James Lind established a link between the consumption of citrus fruits and a decline in scurvy, and the frequency of the disease decreased radically. Lind’s discovery also led
