Scurvy is a disease caused by acute vitamin C deficiency. The best way to prevent it is to ensure including natural resources of vitamin C in everyday diet, say doctors. However, vitamin C supplements become part of the treatment for those battling scurvy.
During the pandemic, vitamin C supplements were all the rage, as many hoped to improve their immunity to battle SARS-CoV2. As a result, a rampant sale of vitamin C tablets was witnessed.
“Yes, vitamin C is indeed essential to improve your immunity. However, you cannot avoid viruses by taking vitamin supplements suddenly. It must be incorporated regularly into your diet,” says N Vijayashree, head and chief dietician, MGM Healthcare, Chennai.
Signs of scurvy
Dr Kamal Verma, Senior Consultant, Department of Internal Medicine, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad explains, “Scurvy is more common in the elderly, alcoholics and heavy smokers. This is because the elderly consume less food or eat a diet that is deficient in vitamin C due to their age, while vitamin C levels decrease for people who are dependent on alcohol or smoking.”
According to Dr. Kamala, there are various noticeable signs of scurvy.
Dr Kamal explains the onset of scurvy depends on the individual and is mostly identified along with the ailment. “It must be noted that patients don’t come to us saying they have vitamin C deficiency. The deficiency is often identified while examining other symptoms of the ailment for which he or she has come for treatment,” he says.
He explains that in such cases medications and vitamin C supplements will be prescribed along with certain dietary changes that will aid in their recovery.
Why do we need vitamin C
“Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, meaning that it can’t be stored in our body. The excess amount is excreted from our body through urine. So, it’s important to consume foods rich in vitamin C daily,” says Vijayashree. She stresses that because of inconsistent consumption, many people are deficient in vitamin C. “Vitamin C is also important for immunity,” she says.
Dr Kamal explains that vitamin C plays many roles in our bodies. “Vitamin C is very helpful for our skin because it provides an enzyme that aids the production of collagen in the connective tissue. This helps with tissue repair and helps wounds heal more quickly,” he says. He adds that vitamin C aids in iron absorption from food ensuring enough iron is present in the blood. Therefore, the person does not suffer from anemia, another symptom of scurvy. “Vitamin C also helps in the reduction and the duration of upper respiratory tract infections,” he says.
People suffering from gastric issues are often advised to consume vitamin C, Dr Kamal says. “This is because vitamin C is considered a very good antioxidant that helps in detoxification. It also prevents the formation of nitrites in our body, which usually manifests from ingesting spicy or junk food,” he says.
Vitamin C diet to beat scurvy
Vijayashree stresses that you should eat a nutritious diet to boost your immune cells. “We must ensure that along with vitamin C-rich foods, enough protein and zinc are consumed to avoid the deficiency,” she says.
Even though citrus fruits are rich in vitamin C, Vijayashree advises avoiding taking these fruits when you are having a cold or sore throat as it is unhealthy. “We often notice people try to consume citrus fruits when they have the flu or a sore throat, thinking it can help boost their immunity. It is ideal to avoid them when you’re ill as they are acidic in nature and can aggravate the infection,” she advises.
Vijayashree lists out some of the important vegetables to include in your regular and balanced diet for vitamin C intake.
“People with scurvy must ensure that these vegetables are consumed along with their supplements. However, if their condition is not improved, they must consult a doctor and receive the right treatment,” she says.
Vijayshree however warns that too much vitamin C is also not good as it increases acidity in the body and sometimes even causes throat irritation. Thus the intake of vitamin C must be regulated.
Takeaways
- Scurvy is an acute form of vitamin C deficiency with symptoms like bleeding gums, swollen muscles, fatigue and falling of teeth.
- If the immune cells in our body are nourished with a vitamin C rich diet, scurvy can be avoided.
- Vitamin C can be found in your regular home-cooked meal but you must consume leafy green vegetables and citrus fruits too.
