Scurvy and Beyond: What will happen if you don't take vitamin C?

October 23, 2025 •

3 min read

Unlike most animals, humans cannot synthesize vitamin C, making its dietary intake absolutely essential. Understanding what will happen if you don't take vitamin C is vital for preventing a wide array of health problems that stem from this seemingly simple dietary lapse, including the age-old disease, scurvy.

Quick Summary

A chronic diet lacking sufficient vitamin C can lead to a cascade of health issues, including fatigue, weakened immunity, and impaired wound healing. Severe, untreated deficiency culminates in scurvy, marked by bleeding gums, easy bruising, and joint pain.

Key Points

Collagen Synthesis Is Impaired: Vitamin C is essential for producing collagen, the protein providing structure to skin, bones, and blood vessels; deficiency weakens these tissues, leading to poor wound healing and fragile skin.
Immunity and Infection Risk Increase: A deficiency compromises the function of immune cells, making the body more susceptible to infections like pneumonia.
Scurvy is the Severe Outcome: Prolonged deficiency culminates in scurvy, which manifests as bleeding gums, loose teeth, easy bruising, joint pain, and distinctive skin problems.
Mental Health is Affected: Low vitamin C levels are linked to mood disturbances such as depression and irritability, as well as cognitive impairment, due to its role in neurotransmitter synthesis.
Antioxidant Protection is Lost: As a powerful antioxidant, vitamin C protects cells from damaging free radicals; without it, cellular damage and oxidative stress increase.
Iron Absorption is Compromised: Deficiency hinders the absorption of iron from plant-based foods, which can lead to iron-deficiency anemia.
The Body Can't Store Vitamin C: Since it is water-soluble and not stored long-term, a consistent daily intake from diet is necessary to maintain adequate levels and prevent deficiency.

Why Your Body Needs Vitamin C

Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that is critical for survival because the human body cannot produce it. It plays a role in numerous processes beyond immune support.

Key functions include being essential for collagen synthesis, which provides structure to skin, bones, and blood vessels; acting as an antioxidant to protect cells from damage; aiding in the absorption of non-heme iron; and supporting immune cell function. Without sufficient vitamin C, these functions are impaired.

What Happens When Vitamin C Levels Drop

Inadequate vitamin C intake can cause a range of issues. Symptoms vary based on the duration and severity of the deficiency, often progressing over time.

The Early Warning Signs

Initial signs can be subtle and may appear after a few months of insufficient intake:

Fatigue and Weakness: Common early symptoms include general weakness and persistent exhaustion.
Irritability and Mood Changes: Early deficiency is often linked to irritability and depressed mood.
Muscle and Joint Aches: Aches in muscles and joints, especially in the legs, are frequent.
Easy Bruising: Blood vessels become fragile, leading to easy bruising.

The Progression to Scurvy

Untreated deficiency can lead to scurvy, a severe disease. While uncommon in developed nations, it still affects vulnerable populations. Classic scurvy signs include bleeding and swollen gums, which can lead to tooth loss. Skin problems like rough, dry skin and easy bruising are also common. Poor wound healing and anemia may also occur.

Effects on Key Bodily Systems

Vitamin C deficiency impacts multiple systems. Oral and dental health suffers due to impaired collagen support in gums. Immune function is reduced, increasing infection susceptibility. Musculoskeletal issues like joint pain and potentially brittle bones can arise due to weakened connective tissues. Mental and neurological health can also be affected, with links to depression, irritability, and cognitive problems.

At-Risk Populations and Prevention

Certain groups are more vulnerable to deficiency, including individuals with poor diets lacking fruits and vegetables, smokers, those with malabsorption issues, individuals with alcohol use disorder, and people on severely restrictive diets.

Meeting Your Vitamin C Needs

Dietary sources are the preferred way to meet the recommended daily intake (75-90 mg for adults). For more detailed information on vitamin C deficiency, symptoms, and treatment, you can refer to {Link: MSD Manuals https://www.msdmanuals.com/home/disorders-of-nutrition/vitamins/vitamin-c-deficiency}. Below is a comparison of dietary and supplemental sources:


Feature	Dietary Vitamin C	Supplemental Vitamin C
Source	Fruits and vegetables like oranges, red peppers, broccoli, and kiwi.	Tablets, capsules, chewables, and powders.
Nutrient Synergy	Comes with a complex mix of beneficial vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients.	Isolated nutrient; other health benefits of whole foods are missed.
Absorption	Generally well-absorbed, with some forms showing similar bioavailability to supplements.	Effective for increasing blood levels, but some research suggests no additional benefit over diet for general health.
Processing	Some vitamin C is lost during prolonged storage or high-heat cooking.	Offers a guaranteed, consistent dose, unaffected by food prep.
Cost	Part of a regular food budget, providing additional nutrients and fiber.	Can be an added expense, depending on brand and dose.
Toxicity Risk	Extremely low risk from dietary sources due to natural regulation.	High doses (over 2,000 mg/day) can cause digestive upset and may increase kidney stone risk.

Conclusion: The Importance of Consistent Intake

A consistent intake of vitamin C through diet is crucial to prevent deficiency and its wide-ranging consequences, from weakened immunity and skin issues to severe scurvy and compromised mental health. Consuming plenty of fruits and vegetables is the best approach. For high-risk individuals, understanding the symptoms and potentially using supplements under professional guidance can be beneficial.

For more detailed information on vitamin C functions and recommendations, refer to authoritative health resources like the {Link: NIH Office of Dietary Supplements https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/}.

Frequently Asked Questions

Early signs often include persistent fatigue, weakness, unexplained muscle and joint pain, and general irritability. These symptoms can be subtle and develop over several months of insufficient intake.

Yes, bleeding gums are a classic symptom of vitamin C deficiency. The vitamin is needed to produce collagen that supports gum health, and without it, the gums become weak, swollen, and prone to bleeding.

Yes, deficiency can lead to various skin problems. This includes rough, dry, and scaly skin, easy bruising, and tiny red or purple spots (petechiae) around hair follicles due to weakened blood vessels.

It typically takes at least three months of severely limited vitamin C intake for scurvy to develop. The onset of symptoms progresses from general weakness to the more severe, classic signs.

Groups at higher risk include individuals with poor diets lacking fruits and vegetables, smokers (who need more vitamin C), people with malabsorption issues, and those with a history of alcohol abuse.

Yes, studies have shown that vitamin C deficiency can be associated with adverse mood effects, including depression and increased irritability. The vitamin is necessary for the production of certain neurotransmitters and brain function.

A balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables is the best way to get enough vitamin C. Good sources include oranges, bell peppers, strawberries, broccoli, kiwi, and potatoes.