Scurvy may not be a disease you hear much about in the 21st century, but it was once a major concern for sailors and seafarers. It killed more than two million sailors between the time Columbus crossed the ocean and the introduction of steam engines during the Industrial Revolution. Scurvy accounted for more deaths than storms, battles, shipwrecks, and all other diseases combined.
Today, scurvy can still be a problem for those who struggle to get enough nutrients, specifically vitamin C.
What Is Scurvy?
Scurvy is a serious vitamin C deficiency. The human body needs vitamin C to make collagen (the tissue that connects your muscles and bones and makes up your skin), heal wounds, support your immune system, and help with many other internal processes.
The first symptoms of scurvy will typically develop after at least three months of extremely low vitamin C levels. Unlike most other animals, humans can't make vitamin C in their bodies. We have to get it from the foods we eat.
Scurvy Risk Factors
You'll mainly find vitamin C in fruits and vegetables, but it's also possible to get it from vitamins and supplements. People who don't eat well aren't necessarily at a higher risk for scurvy, especially if they take a vitamin C supplement. Scurvy may form if you:
- Don't include fruits and vegetables in your diet for many months
- Eat very little food due to an eating disorder or a treatment that makes eating hard (such as chemotherapy)
- Smoke, as it limits your body's ability to absorb vitamin C
- Abuse drugs or alcohol for a long time
- Have a poor diet while pregnant or breastfeeding (when your body needs extra vitamin C)
- Have type 1 diabetes and require higher levels of vitamin C
- Have food allergies
Scurvy Symptoms
Scurvy is a progressive disease; the longer it's left untreated, the more symptoms you'll have. Some of the most common symptoms include:
Lethargy. Lethargy, along with body weakness, can be so intense that you're unable to get out of bed. It's usually the first symptom to appear. This led to the common belief that scurvy was actually caused by laziness.
Body aches. Aches are felt primarily in the joints, but they aren't limited there. It may feel similar to body aches from the flu.
Swelling. Noticeable swelling happens mostly in your arms and legs.
Bruising. The slightest touch will cause bruising. Internal bleeding will cause your skin to look splotchy.
Oral problems. Your gums turn spongy and porous. Your breath will smell rotten, and your teeth may start to loosen in their sockets.
Reopening of old wounds. There isn't enough collagen left in your body to continue creating scar tissue, so old wounds may start opening. Mucous membranes (which include your lips, mouth, nasal passages, and middle ear) may also bleed.
Other symptoms of scurvy
Other signs of scurvy may include:
- Anemia
- Rough skin
- Dry, brittle hair
- Irritability
- Fever
Scurvy Complications
If left untreated, scurvy can lead to serious and potentially deadly health problems, such as:
- Brain problems: Stroke-like symptoms, such as slurred speech or body weakness on one side, loss of consciousness, or body shaking (convulsions)
- Chest problems: Serious chest pain or trouble breathing
- Bleeding problems: Brain bleed or bleeding in the pericardial sac of the heart
- Other problems: Jaundice, nerve problems, destruction of red blood cells, and seizures
Scurvy Diagnosis
Your doctor will check your medical and dietary history and perform a physical exam to look for signs such as swollen gums, bruising, and slow-healing wounds. They may also order a blood test to see how much vitamin C is in your blood. They may also do a dermoscopy, where they take a sample of your skin or hair and look at it under a microscope.
Scurvy Treatment
Modern treatment of scurvy is quite simple. You'll want to talk to your doctor, but they'll likely suggest adding more fresh fruits and vegetables to your diet, as well as a vitamin C supplement. Most people feel better within 48 hours and are completely cured within two weeks.
Your doctor may also suggest that you see a specialist for treatment, support, or advice, depending on the reason why you developed scurvy in the first place. They may also test for other vitamin deficiencies.
You'll want to make sure to address the underlying cause of scurvy, so you don't have a relapse.
Vitamin C-rich foods
Foods high in vitamin C include:
| Food | Milligrams per serving | Daily value percent |
| Orange juice, 3/4 cup | 93 | 103% |
| Orange, 1 medium | 70 | 78% |
| Grapefruit juice, 3/4 cup | 70 | 78% |
| Kiwifruit, 1 medium | 64 | 71% |
| Green pepper, sweet, raw, 1/2 cup | 60 | 67% |
| Broccoli, cooked, 1/2 cup | 51 | 57% |
| Strawberries, fresh, sliced, 1/2 cup | 49 | 54% |
| Brussels sprouts, cooked, 1/2 cup | 48 | 53% |
| Grapefruit, 1/2 medium | 39 | 43% |
Vitamin C supplements
You can find vitamin C supplements in these forms:
- Chewable tablets
- Powder
- Powder for suspension
- Liquid solution
- Powder for solution
- Regular capsules
- Regular tablets
- Extended-release capsules
- Extended-release tablets
- Wafers
Before using over-the-counter vitamin C, read the label carefully for precautions. Tell your doctor about any allergies, especially to other medications or foods.
Can Scurvy Be Prevented?
Scurvy is an easily preventable disease. To avoid forming scurvy, eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables regularly. Keep a healthy diet to make sure that your body has all the vitamins and nutrients it needs to avoid nutritional diseases such as scurvy. You can also take supplements but should talk with your doctor first.
While scurvy may not be as common as it once was, it's still possible to get it. It's especially a concern if you're getting other medical treatments or have underlying conditions that may affect your ability to get vitamin C from your food or to properly absorb it.
If you have any scurvy symptoms or are concerned about getting it, talk to your doctor about ways to ward off a vitamin C deficiency.
What Is Latent Scurvy?
The WHO introduced the term "latent scurvy" to describe a less serious form of vitamin C deficiency that doesn't show clear signs such as bleeding gums or bruising but can cause tiredness and weakness.
This means you might feel fatigued without clear reasons, especially if you're withdrawing from alcohol. To address this, consider getting your vitamin C levels checked, and talk to your doctor about taking vitamin C supplements, which have been shown to help with tiredness.
Takeaways
A lack of vitamin C causes scurvy, which leads to symptoms such as fatigue, bleeding gums, bruising, and slow wound healing. You can avoid it by eating vitamin C-rich foods including oranges, strawberries, and spinach. Treatment for scurvy involves boosting vitamin C through supplements or foods. People who eat a limited amount of fruits and vegetables over a long period and those with specific health conditions like an eating disorder have a higher chance of getting scurvy.
