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Vitamin C deficiency
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- Vitamin C plays an essential role
in maintaining healthy skin and the integrity of blood
vessels.
- A deficiency of this vitamin causes
weak skin, poor wound healing, and weak blood vessels. It
may also be beneficial in fighting cancer, infections, heart
disease, fractures, allergies, and arthritis.
- This disease is seen most often in
those with poor diet, leading eventually to a disease called
scurvy. The major sources of Vitamin C include vegetables
and fresh fruit, especially citrus.
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- May begin with vague symptoms, such
as feeling tired and weak.
- Scurvy -- occurs in those with severe Vitamin C Deficiency. Symptoms include thickened areas of skin, bleeding around hair follicles, easy Bruising or tiny
purple/red spots (caused by small amounts of bleeding into
the skin), bleeding gums, bleeding into joints, and low
blood count. Patients with scurvy tend to have very poor
wound healing. If scurvy is untreated, it may lead to
swelling of the legs, lack of urination, bleeding in the
brain, problems with sensation, and eventually,
death.
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- Vitamin C Deficiency
usually is due to a diet that lacks fresh fruit and
vegetables. Those at highest risk are alcoholics, the
elderly, and the poor.
- Those with kidney failure and some
cancer patients may also suffer from this disease.
- Smokers have a high risk of developing Vitamin C Deficiency.
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- Diagnosis is usually made by
symptoms and examination.
- Plasma ascorbic level -- measures
the amount of Vitamin C in the blood.
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- This disease is easily treated with
oral vitamin C doses of 300-1000 milligrams per day.
- Improvement generally occurs within
days.
- Vitamin C in mega doses may help
prevent some cancers and heart disease.
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- A healthy diet will help prevent
this disease. Vitamin C is found mainly in citrus fruit,
strawberries, broccoli, and tomatoes.
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- Vitamin C toxicity -- too much can lead to problems with excess gas, stomach irritation, and diarrhea. It may also increase the risk of Kidney Stones, and may interfere with stool tests for blood and urine tests for glucose.
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