The Effects Of A Vitamin C Deficiency

One of the most common diseases brought on by an extreme vitamin C deficiency is scurvy. Hippocrates mentioned the signs of scurvy and identified the disease in his writings. In the 15th century until the 19th century, scurvy was a significant problem among sailors who couldn't store fresh fruits and vegetables during their long voyages. However, the signs of a vitamin C deficiency can be seen long before scurvy develops.

Signs of Vitamin C Deficiency

A deficiency of vitamin C will usually manifest 45 to 80 days after continued poor intake. Too little vitamin C can initially cause dry brittle hair, inflammation of the gums or gingivitis, rough dry skin, a mild anemia, and a slightly slowed metabolism. A vitamin C deficiency can also result in a decreased ability to fight infection and prolonged wound healing.

Complications

The symptoms of a vitamin C deficiency, if left untreated can lead to other health problems. In adults, scurvy signs include swollen, bleeding gums, often followed by tooth loss, lethargy, fatigue, rheumatic leg pain, muscle deterioration and skin lesions. Hyperkeratotic follicles or "corkscrew hairs" on the arms or legs are a classic identifier of scurvy. Some people may also experience psychological changes such as hysteria, hypochondria and depression.

Children

Vitamin C deficiency symptoms may be a more severe in children and infants. A child may experience weakness in bone, cartilage, teeth and connective tissues. Developing tissues of an infant or child may acquire more lesions resulting in bleeding, edema and delayed wound healing. Infants can develop deficiency from formulas not enriched with vitamin C or from the breast milk of a mother who is deficient.

Treatment and Prevention

Vitamin C deficiency in both adults and children can be fatal. Fortunately that is rarely the case in modern times as treatment is simple. Eating or drinking vitamin C-rich foods should eliminate the problem if it is discovered soon enough. The recommended daily allowance of vitamin C for adults is 75 to 90 mg per day. So just one cup of orange juice, which contains 97 mg of vitamin C, will allow you to reach that goal and prevent a deficiency.