Scurvy

Scurvy

Definition of Scurvy

Deficiency disease caused due to the lack of vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) in the diet for a prolonged period

More About scurvy

  • Symptoms of Scurvy are swollen and bleeding gums
  • Scurvy is characterized by
    • Skin eruptions
    • Swollen bleeding gums of teeth
    • Poor healing of wounds
    • Haemorrhage
    • Anaemia
    • Severe pain in the joints, caused by internal bleeding joints
  • Vitamin C is an antiscorbutic vitamin or ascorbic acid
  • Chemical name of Vitamin C is 2-Oxo-L-threo-hexono-1,4-lactone-2,3-enediol
  • It is soluble in water and easily gets destroyed by heat or storage
  • It provides resistance, helps to dissolve cholesterol in blood, wound repair and enhances absorption of iron
  • Vitamin C is an important antioxidant and helps in providing immunity to the body
  • Vitamin C maintains the matrix of cartilage, bone and dentine and the integrity of endothelium
  • Diet containing sufficient amount of Vitamin C helps preventing the diseases
  • Vitamin C is abundantly found in
    • Citrus fruits such as Lemons, Oranges, Guava, Strawberries, Kiwi
    • Vegetable such as broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, sprouts, cabbage, tomatoes have Vitamin C in them
  • Medicated vitamin supplements, i.e oral chewable tablets and injections are also available
  • Orange or lime juice is the best source of Vitamin C and readily gets absorbed
  • Other excellent sources of Vitamin C are parsley, broccoli, bell pepper, strawberries, papaya, cauliflower, kale, mustard greens, and Brussels sprouts
  • Overdose or relatively large doses of Vitamin C causes Indigestion
  • Moreover as Vitamin C is soluble in water, hence dietary excess of this vitamin will not be absorbed and the excess of the vitamin in the blood will be excreted in urine

Questions related to scurvy:

1) Scurvy is characterised by

a) Pigeon breast
b) Speech disability
c) Bleeding gums
d) All the above

Solution: (c) Scurvy is characterised by Bleeding gums

2) Deficiency of Vitamin C causes ____

a) Beriberi
b) Anaemia
c) Rickets
d) Scurvy

Solution : (d) Deficiency of Vitamin C causes scurvy.

3) Scurvy is caused due to the deficiency of ____

a) Niacin
b) Thiamine
c) Antiscorbutic acid
d) Biotin

Solution: (c) Scurvy is caused due to the deficiency of Antiscorbutic acid

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