Scurvy and vitamin C

Vitamin C is a water soluble known as ascorbic acid. It is a six carbon lactone. This vitamin is involved in collagen synthesis, acts as an antioxidant and aids iron absorption. Collagen is an important structural component of blood vessel, tendons, ligaments and bone.

Vitamin C also plays an important role in the synthesis of the neurotransmitter, norepinephrine.

Scurvy is a disease of vitamin C. The early symptoms are weakness, fatigue, listlessness and lassitude. The name given to set of symptoms that develop during a severe long-term shortage of vitamin C.

It can result in bleeding into the joints causing haemarthrosis: swelling and pain at the join, Trauma is one of the most frequent causes of haemarthrosis but in scurvy bleeding can occur in the absent of trauma.

Although scurvy is extremely rare, doctors still see an occasional case. Historically the source of scurvy was described by Hippocrates documented during the Crusades and recognized as a n occupational hazard among naval officers and pirates alike.

By late 1700s the British navy were aware that scurvy could be cured by eating oranges or lemons, even though vitamin C would not be isolated until the early 1930s.
Scurvy and vitamin C