Yes, you can still get scurvy

Although rates of scurvy are not nearly as high as they used to be, the vitamin C deficiency best known for affecting sailors on long voyages still exists. When cases occur, they can give doctors clues as to why the easily treatable condition continues to occur. New research from a case study in Australia points to the impact of the cost of living on nutrition and the rise of weight loss surgery as a potential cause of scurvy cases. The findings will be described on October 22 in the news BMJ Case Reports.

What is scurvy?

Scurvy is caused by a severe deficiency of vitamin C, also called ascorbic acid. According to the Cleveland Clinicvitamin C is a very most important nutrient for the human body. It aids the development, growth and healing of the skin, bones and connective tissue. Vitamin C is also necessary for blood vessels to function properly, it helps maintain our teeth and gums, helps the body absorb the iron needed to produce red blood cells, and helps heal burns and other wounds.

[Related: It took centuries (and vitamins) for doctors to finally stop scurvy.]

As an antioxidant, vitamin C also helps protect our cells from damage from free radicals – byproducts of normal cell activity that participate in chemical reactions within cells. Over time, some of those chemical reactions can cause damage. When someone does not get enough vitamin C through their diet about two to three monthsIn extreme cases it can lead to scurvy.

Symptoms of scurvy include general weakness, anemia, gum disease, poor wound healing and skin bleeding. In the United States, scurvy most often affects infants, children and older adults who do not get enough vitamin C from their diets.

The impact of the cost of living on diet

In the new casethe authors treated a middle-aged man in Australia. His legs were covered in small painful reddish brown pins that looked like a rash. There was also blood in his urine and he was anemic.

The patient tested negative for inflammatory, autoimmune and blood disorders and there was no evidence of internal bleeding based on body scans or other diagnostic clues from skin biopsies. The result too continued to spread while you are in the hospital.

The patient revealed that he was struggling financially and often neglected his diet, eating few fruits and vegetables and sometimes skipping meals. He also stopped taking the nutritional supplements prescribed to him after a previous weight-loss operation because of the costs.

The blood tests showed no detectable levels of vitamin C and levels of other key nutrients were extremely low. The authors diagnosed him with scurvy and treated him daily with vitamin C (1000 mg), vitamin D3, folic acid and multivitamin supplements. This rash and other symptoms disappeared with this treatment.

According to the authorsThis is one case report and the disease is relatively rare but should be monitored. The rising cost of living has also made it harder for families to afford nutritious food.

“Scurvy is still seen as a disease of the past, especially in developed countries,” the authors wrote in a statement. “Our patient had multiple risk factors, namely poor dietary habits, obesity, previous bariatric surgery, use of proton pump inhibitors and low income. His history of iron, vitamin D and folic acid deficiencies were also clues to his underlying nutritional deficiencies.”

Is scurvy on the rise?

The number of cases of vitamin C deficiency varies from country to country. In the US approximately 7.1 percent of people can develop a deficiency, while this is the case in Northern India 73.9 percent. However, there are still some isolated reports, such as those in Britain. A case report published in the Journal of the Canadian Medical Association early October detailed scurvy in a 65-year-old woman who lived largely on a diet of canned soup and fish and no fresh produce. Her ability to shop for groceries, cook, and perform other daily activities was limited by mobility issues and she received very little outside support with these tasks.

“This case presents a complex example of food insecurity manifesting as an unusual diagnosis,” said Dr. Sarah Engelhart, co-author of the study and a general internist at Mount Sinai Hospital and the University of Toronto, said in a statement. “A unifying diagnosis was only discovered after a detailed review of her social and nutritional history.”

[Related: Do you need a daily multivitamin? Probably not, says national health task force.]

There are also some signs that scurvy is on the rise. A review published in July in the journal JAAOS: global research and reviews also found that between 2016 and 2020, scurvy occurs in children more than tripled from 8.2 to 26.7 cases per 100,000 cases in children. Many of the patients also had autism spectrum disorder, which can lead to: sensory problems what it can lead to avoiding certain nutritious food groups. According to this report, belonging to a lower economic class was also a risk factor.

While it is still generally rare and not something to worry about for the general population, it is still something doctors and patients need to be vigilant about as costs rise.

Prevention and treatment

Eating enough vitamin C is the best way to prevent scurvy. Most healthy adults should be fine 75 to 90 milligrams per day. Add fresh fruits and vegetables with every meal is the most effective way to increase vitamin C intake, so it is important to eat a varied and nutritious diet. Doctors are also advised to keep an eye on this due to the increasing incidence of food insecurity.

Fortunately, the disease is quite easy to treat. Vitamin C supplements under a doctor’s supervision and increased product intake are often the first course of treatment some report feeling better within the first 48 hours of increased vitamin intake.