Vitamin C deficiency - Symptoms, Causes, Images, and Treatment Options

Diseases

Highlights & Basics

Key Highlights

Vitamin C deficiency can lead to scurvy, a potentially life-threatening condition. Though rare, scurvy has historically affected populations subject to famine or displacement, particularly during times of war.
Most key clinical manifestations are related to impaired collagen synthesis. These include bleeding complications (spontaneous petechiae and ecchymoses), friable gingiva and loose teeth, bone pain, and joint effusions.
Other complications of scurvy include heart failure, encephalopathy, and entrapment neuropathies.
If not treated promptly, scurvy can be fatal.
Complete recovery is anticipated in most patients.

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Definition

Epidemiology

Etiology

Pathophysiology

Images

Recommended daily quantity of vitamin C to prevent deficiency. The appropriate RDA has been disputed in several large reviews. These guidelines are drawn from the most recent published large consensus of appropriate intake based on data from historical, biologic, epidemiologic, and intervention studies

Citations

Key Articles

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nutrition and growth: refugee health domestic guidance. May 2024 [internet publication].[Full Text]
Dietary Guidelines for Americans. 2020-2025 dietary guidelines for Americans. Dec 2020 [internet publication].[Full Text]
Gonzalez-Campoy JM, St Jeor ST, Castorino K, et al. Clinical practice guidelines for healthy eating for the prevention and treatment of metabolic and endocrine diseases in adults: cosponsored by the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists/the American College of Endocrinology and the Obesity Society. Endocr Pract. 2013 Sep-Oct;19 Suppl 3:1-82.[Full Text]
Panel on Dietary Antioxidants and Related Compounds, Subcommittees on Upper Reference Levels of Nutrients and Interpretation and Uses of DRIs, Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes, Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Chapter 5: vitamin C. In: Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine's Dietary reference intakes for vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and carotenoids. Washington DC: National Academy Press; 2000: 95-185.[Full Text]
National Institutes of Health. Vitamin C: fact sheet for health professionals. Mar 2021 [internet publication].[Full Text]

Referenced Articles

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75. Panel on Dietary Antioxidants and Related Compounds, Subcommittees on Upper Reference Levels of Nutrients and Interpretation and Uses of DRIs, Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes, Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Chapter 5: vitamin C. In: Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine's Dietary reference intakes for vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and carotenoids. Washington DC: National Academy Press; 2000: 95-185.[Full Text]
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