What happens if the vitamin C content is low?
Not eating enough fresh fruits and vegetables can lead to a lack of vitamin C. People will feel tired, weak, and irritable. Severe deficiency of vitamin C is called scurvy, which can lead to bruising, gum and tooth problems, dry hair and skin, and anemia. Increasing the intake of fresh fruits and vegetables or taking oral vitamin C supplements can often correct vitamin C deficiency.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is crucial for the formation, growth, and repair of bones, skin, and connective tissues (which bind other tissues and organs together, including tendons, ligaments, and blood vessels). It is also crucial for the normal function of blood vessels. Vitamin C helps maintain healthy teeth and gums. It helps the body absorb iron, which is essential for the production of red blood cells. Vitamin C also helps with burn and wound healing. Good sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli, strawberries, and bell peppers.
Symptoms of Vitamin C Deficiency
If there is a lack of vitamin C in the diet, adults will feel tired, weak, and irritable. They may experience weight loss and muscle and joint pain.
After several months of vitamin C deficiency, symptoms of scurvy may appear. Subcutaneous bleeding (especially around hair follicles or bruising), gum area, and joints may occur. Swelling, purple and sponge like gums. Teeth will eventually loosen. Hair becomes dry, brittle, and curly (like a spiral), while skin becomes dry, rough, and scaly. There may be fluid accumulation in the legs. Anemia may occur. Infection may occur and the wound may not heal.
Babies may experience restlessness, pain when moving, and loss of appetite. Abnormal weight gain in infants. Infants and children with impaired bone growth may experience bleeding and anemia.
Vitamin C
Diagnosis of Vitamin C Deficiency
Ascorbic acid is another name for vitamin C. A level of ascorbic acid below 0.2 milligrams per deciliter of blood indicates a severe deficiency of vitamin C.
Doctors may also perform skin biopsies to assist in diagnosis. If there is a vitamin C deficiency, biopsy may show the following signs:
Thickening of skin around hair follicles
Perifollicular bleeding
Spiral hair
A large number of blood vessels
Treatment of Vitamin C Deficiency
Untreated scurvy can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening problems, therefore timely supplementation of vitamin C is necessary for treatment.
A review in 2023 explained that the dosage of vitamin C required to treat scurvy depends on the severity of the condition and the age and needs of the patient. The author points out that children may need up to 300 milligrams per day, while adults may need 500 to 1000 milligrams per day.
For some adults, doctors may recommend taking 2 grams per day for the first 3 days, followed by 500 milligrams per day for 1 week, and then 100 milligrams per day for 1 to 3 months.
Who is most prone to vitamin C deficiency?
The symptoms of vitamin C deficiency include fatigue, easy bruising, and uneven skin. If you suffer from certain diseases, including anorexia, you are more likely to experience this deficiency.
Rough and uneven skin
Vitamin C plays a crucial role in the production of collagen, which is a protein abundant in connective tissues such as skin, hair, joints, bones, and blood vessels. When the level of vitamin C is low, a skin disease called keratosis occurs.
There are red dots or lines on the spoon shaped nails
The characteristic of spoon shaped nails is concave, usually thin and brittle. They are usually associated with iron deficiency anemia, but also with vitamin C deficiency. Due to weakened blood vessels that are prone to rupture, red dots or vertical lines on the nail bed may also appear when vitamin C is deficient, known as fragmented bleeding.
Slow wound healing
Due to vitamin C deficiency, the formation rate of collagen is slowed down, resulting in slower wound healing. In severe vitamin C deficiency, old wounds may even reopen, increasing the risk of infection.
