Vitamin C Deficiency Scurvy

Symptoms of scurvy a disease caused by vitamin c deficiency include.

Vitamin c deficiency scurvy. The upper tolerable intake is 2 g day. Another serious consequence of severe vitamin c deficiency is scurvy which depresses the immune system weakens muscles and bones and makes people feel fatigued and lethargic. Early symptoms of deficiency include weakness feeling tired and sore arms and legs. Taking more is considered unsafe.

This is why captain cook stocked up on vitamin c rich limes to stop scurvy running rife amongst his sailors on long sea voyages. For treating vitamin c deficiency the typical vitamin c injection dose is 200 mg once daily for up to a week. The rda is 75 mg for women and 90 mg for men while most supplements contain 100 500 mg of vitamin c. Supplements may also help prevent age related macular degeneration and the common cold.

Severe deficiency of vitamin c can lead to scurvy causing bleeding gums poor wound healing and bone damage. Vitamin c also known as ascorbic acid functions as a water soluble antioxidant and as a cofactor in various enzyme systems such as those involved in the synthesis of connective tissue components and neurotransmitters. Vitamin c deficiency can lead to scurvy. Without treatment decreased red blood cells gum disease changes to hair and bleeding from the skin may occur.

As scurvy worsens there can be poor wound healing personality changes and finally death from infection or bleeding. Symptoms of vitamin c deficiency knowns as scurvy appear once plasma concentrations of ascorbic acid drop below 10 micromolar μm a level that can be prevented by consuming as little as 10 mg of ascorbic acid daily. Scurvy is a disease resulting from a lack of vitamin c ascorbic acid. Supplementation is effective for scurvy a severe form of vitamin c deficiency.