Did you know that not eating enough fruits and vegetables can cause vitamin C deficienc? Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is essential for the formation, growth, and repair of bone, skin, and connective tissue. It is also essential for the normal function of blood vessels. Vitamin C helps maintain healthy teeth and gums. It helps the body absorb iron, which is needed to make red blood cells. Vitamin C also helps burns and wounds heal. Good sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, broccoli, strawberries, and sweet peppers. Like vitamin E, vitamin C is an antioxidant: It protects cells against damage by free radicals. Vitamin C deficiency usually results from a diet low in vitamin.

Vitamin C deficiency usually results from a diet low in vitamin. Those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, have high fever, diarrhea, hyperthyroidism, surgery, burns, heavy drinkers and smokers have an increased body’s requirements of vitamin C and the risk of vitamin C deficiency. Severe vitamin C deficiency can lead to scurvy. Scurvy is rare but may occur in alcoholics and older people who are malnourished. Adults with vitamin C deficiency may feel tired, weak, and irritable. Vitamin C plays a key role in collagen production, a protein that is abundant in connective tissues like skin, hair, joints, bones and blood vessels. When vitamin C levels are low, this can cause hair to become dry, brittle, and coiled. The skin may also become dry, rough, and scaly.

Moreover, red, swollen and bleeding gums are another common signs of vitamin C deficiency. Severe deficiency of this vitamin can lead to tooth loss. Deficiency of vitamin C also causes wound to heal more slowly. As the deficiency progresses, Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) and infections may develop, and wounds usually heal more slowly. In infants, they may experience irritability, pain when they move, and lack of appetite. Vitamin C deficiency can be prevented by consuming the recommended amounts of vitamin C. Smokers are advised to increase their vitamin C, as tobacco reduces the absorption of vitamin C. To treat vitamin C deficiency, we need to increase our consumption of vitamin C-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables. Some of the foods rich in Vitamin C include guava, sweet red pepper, kiwifruit, lychee, lemon, orange, strawberry, papaya, broccoli and parsley.

ZDN DMO II Rowence F. Zorilla, RND

References:

1. Vitamin C Deficiency

https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/disorders-of-nutrition/vitamins/vitamin-c-deficiency#:~:text=Severe%20deficiency%2C%20called%20scurvy%2C%20causes,mouth%20usually%20corrects%20the%20deficiency.

2. 15 Signs and Symptoms of Vitamin C Deficiency

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-c-deficiency-symptoms#TOC_TITLE_HDR_18