Scurvy: Vitamin C Deficiency Causes, Symptoms & Risk Groups

Scurvy results from severe vitamin C deficiency, impairing collagen synthesis. Collagen is essential for connective tissue integrity (skin, blood vessels, bone, cartilage).

Symptoms

• Fatigue, weakness
• Bleeding gums, loose teeth
• Petechiae, bruising, poor wound healing
• Joint pain, swelling
• Corkscrew hairs, follicular hyperkeratosis
• Anemia, depression

Historical & Modern Risk Groups

• Sailors on long voyages (historical)
• Restrictive diets, eating disorders
• Alcoholism, severe malabsorption
• Elderly, isolated, food-insecure
• Infants fed only boiled milk (no fresh fruit/veg)

Treatment: Vitamin C supplementation (oral/IV) + dietary correction. Rapid improvement within days.