ScurvySierra BakkenBiology 200Will Brown

What Is Scurvy?• Scurvy is a vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

deficiency that results from a few weeks to

months of no vitamin C or 20 to 40 days

• We’ve known of it since ancient Greek and

Egyptian times

• It was most common in sailors throughout

the 16th-18th century due to vitamin C

deprivation for long periods of time

• Cases today are rare

Why Do We Need Vitamin C?

• Vitamin C is essential for the production of collagen and the absorption of

iron

• We are unable to make vitamin C on our own so we need to get it from other

sources like citrus fruits

Causes• It is caused by environmental factors, not genetic factors

• Deprivation of vitamin C due to famine, anorexia, restrictive diets, or difficulty orally ingesting

foods

Who Is Susceptible?

• It affects all races with no sexual disposition

• It can occur at any age

• Elderly people, alcoholics, or those that have a diet with little to no fruits and vegetables

• You will also see it in countries that suffer from famine

Symptoms

Early Symptoms

• Appetite loss, poor weight gain, diarrhea, rapid breathing, fever,

irritability, tenderness and discomfort in legs, swelling over

long bones, bleeding, and feelings of paralysis

Progressed Symptoms

• Bleeding of the gums, loosened teeth, petechial hemorrhage of

the skin and mucous membranes, bleeding in the eye,

proptopsis of the eyeball, constochondral beading,

hyperkeratosis, corkscrew hair, and sicca syndrome

Prevention

• Oranges

• Lemons

• Romaine Lettuce

• Guava

• Kiwi

• Papaya

• Tomatoes

• Strawberries

• Carrots

• Bell peppers

• Broccoli

• Potatoes

• Cabbage

• Spinach

• Paprika

• Liver

• Cereal

• Oysters

Eat foods rich in vitamin C

Treatment• Adults RDA for vitamin C is 75mg to 90mg

• Smokers need 35mg more of vitamin C

• Doctors recommend 250mg of vitamin C is you have scurvy

• Eat Vitamin C rich foods

• You should start to see an improvement about 48 hours after starting treatment

• Extra vitamin C will be excreted in urine

• Surgery is unnecessary

Diet PlanDay 1

Breakfast: Oatmeal with wheat toast and 1cup of orange juice 82 mg Vitamin C

Lunch: Turkey sandwich with 1 cup of cantaloupe 68 mg Vitamin C

Dinner: 12 oz. prime rib with 1cup of mashed potatoes and 1/2 cup 73 mg Vitamin C

of broccoli

Dessert: 1cup of strawberries 80 mg Vitamin C

Total: 303 mg Vitamin C

Day 2

Breakfast: Pancakes with 1 cup of strawberries and whipped cream 80 mg Vitamin C

Lunch: BLT with a medium orange 75 mg Vitamin C

Dinner: Spaghetti with French bread and a 2 cup spinach salad 16 mg Vitamin C

Dessert:A medium papaya 95 mg Vitamin C

Total: 266 mg Vitamin C

Day 3

Breakfast: 2 egg omelet with ½ cup red bell pepper 95 mg Vitamin C

Lunch: Chicken Caesar salad with half a grapefruit 42 mg Vitamin C

Dinner: Chicken with a baked potato and 1 cup of brussel sprouts 125 mg Vitamin C

Dessert: Frozen yogurt with ½ cup raspberries 16 mg Vitamin C

Total: 278 mg Vitamin C

Questions1) Scurvy is a disease caused by a deficiency in what vitamin?

Answer: Vitamin C

2) True or False, There are still many cases of Scurvy today?

Answer: False, Scurvy cases today are rare

3) After you start treatment, when should you see an improvement?

Answer: About 48 hours

References• Carpenter, Kenneth J. The History of Scurvy and Vitamin C. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1986.

Print.• Wardlaw, Gordon M., and Anne M. Smith. Contemporary Nutrition. 8th ed. New York:

Mcgraw-Hill, 2011. Print.• Crosta, Peter. "What Is Scurvy? What Causes Scurvy?" Medical News Today. MediLexicon

International, 30 June 2009. Web. 05 Mar. 2012. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155758.php

• Anne, John. "Treatment of Scurvy." Ezinearticles. Web. 05 Mar. 2012. http://ezinearticles.com/?Treatment-of-Scurvy&id=468155

• "Scurvy - Causes and Treatment." VITAMINS DIARY: Information on Vitamins, Minerals, Herbs and Nutrients. 2011. Web. 05 Mar. 2012. http://www.vitaminsdiary.com/disorders/scurvy-cause.html

• Rob. "Top Fruits For Vitamin C Content." Former Fat Guy Blog. 06 Mar. 2008. Web. 08 Mar. 2012.

http://www.formerfatguyblog.com/2008/03/06/top-fruits-for-vitamin-c.html• Decuypere. "Dr. Decuypere's Nutrient Charts.” Fruit Chart. 2002-2012. Web. 05 Mar. 2012. � http://www.healthalternatives2000.com/fruit-nutrition-chart.html