WHAT IS VITAMIN C DEFICIENCY? WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

WHAT IS VITAMIN C DEFICIENCY?

Factors such as inadequate nutrition, alcoholism, anorexia, severe mental illness, smoking, and dialysis lead to vitamin C deficiency. Not consuming fresh foods containing vitamin C in your meals is the most basic cause of this deficiency.

Vitamin C deficiency leads to scurvy. This disease is characterized by weakness, easily bleeding gums, small hemorrhages under the skin causing bruises, curling of the hair, hyperkeratosis, joint pain, shortness of breath and lethargy. An important early sign of vitamin C deficiency is fatigue.

Owing to its antioxidant effect, vitamin C also helps reduce the damage that smoking does to the body in people who smoke. Research shows that smoking causes the breakdown of vitamin C, and as a result, people who smoke have lower vitamin C levels than those who do not. For this reason, people who smoke, both to prevent the damage that smoking does to the body and to balance their deficient vitamin C levels, are advised to take a Ministry of Agriculture-approved vitamin C, propolis, and zinc supplement to support their immunity.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF VITAMIN C DEFICIENCY?

- Anemia
– Bleeding and swelling of the gums (gingivitis)
– Nosebleeds
– Petechiae (skin spots)
– Ecchymosis (bruising caused by bleeding under the skin)
– Purpura (bruises)
– Swelling in the joints and joint pain
– Wounds not healing completely or healing slowly
– Weight gain due to a slowed metabolism
– Dry skin
– Hyperkeratosis (thickening of the skin)
– Corkscrew hairs (hairs that curl into a corkscrew shape)
– Dry hair, and hair becoming brittle and weak
– Weakening of tooth enamel

* These statements are not a substitute for medical advice. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Consult your healthcare professional for detailed information.

References:

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-Consumer/