Scurvy: The Condition Associated with a Vitamin C Deficiency

December 5, 2025 •

3 min read

Scurvy, a disease caused by a severe lack of vitamin C, once plagued sailors on long sea voyages who lacked access to fresh fruits and vegetables. The condition associated with a vitamin C deficiency, known as scurvy, is characterized by symptoms such as bleeding gums, fatigue, and poor wound healing. Though rare in modern developed countries, it still poses a threat to vulnerable populations with poor dietary habits.

Quick Summary

A severe lack of vitamin C causes scurvy, leading to fatigue, bruising, and problems with gums and wound healing. It is preventable and treatable by increasing vitamin C intake through diet or supplements.

Key Points

Scurvy is the primary condition associated with vitamin C deficiency: This severe illness is a direct result of the body lacking sufficient ascorbic acid over an extended period, leading to impaired collagen production.
Scurvy affects connective tissues: The lack of collagen synthesis impacts skin, blood vessels, bones, and teeth, causing symptoms like bleeding gums, easy bruising, and poor wound healing.
Symptoms range from general to severe: Early signs include fatigue and irritability, while advanced stages feature more specific symptoms like corkscrew hair and swollen joints.
Treatment is simple and effective: Supplementation with ascorbic acid and an improved diet can reverse the condition, with many symptoms improving within days.
Prevention is key to avoiding scurvy: Maintaining a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is the best way to ensure sufficient vitamin C intake.
Certain populations are at higher risk: Individuals with restrictive diets, alcoholics, the elderly, and smokers are more susceptible to developing a deficiency.

What is Scurvy?

Scurvy is the specific condition associated with a vitamin C deficiency. Humans cannot produce vitamin C (ascorbic acid) and must obtain it through their diet. Scurvy occurs after a prolonged period, usually around three months, of insufficient intake, causing critically low vitamin C stores. Vitamin C is vital for synthesizing collagen, a protein essential for connective tissues, skin, blood vessels, bones, and teeth. Without enough vitamin C, collagen synthesis is impaired.

Symptoms of Scurvy

Scurvy symptoms develop gradually and can affect various body systems. Early signs are often non-specific.

Early Symptoms

Fatigue and Weakness: Persistent tiredness.
Irritability and Aches: Mood changes, sadness, and muscle/joint aches.

Later Symptoms (Scurvy)

As the deficiency worsens, more distinct symptoms appear:

Dental and Gum Problems: Swollen, spongy, purple, and easily bleeding gums; possible tooth loosening or loss.
Skin Manifestations: Rough, scaly, dry skin. Bleeding under the skin (petechiae or ecchymoses). Dry, brittle, corkscrew-shaped hair.
Impaired Healing: Poor wound healing or reopening of wounds, slow bruise fading.
Anemia: Potential iron-deficiency anemia due to vitamin C's role in iron absorption.
Bone and Joint Pain: Pain and swelling, particularly in the legs, sometimes causing reluctance to move.

Risk Factors for Developing Scurvy

While uncommon in many areas, certain groups face a higher risk:

Limited access to fresh produce.
Alcohol or drug use disorders.
Elderly with poor diets.
Certain medical conditions (e.g., malabsorption, type 1 diabetes, dialysis).
Eating disorders or restrictive diets.
Cigarette smokers, who need more vitamin C.

Comparison of Mild vs. Severe Vitamin C Deficiency


Feature	Mild Deficiency (Early Stage)	Severe Deficiency (Scurvy)
Symptom Onset	Gradual, often subtle	Apparent after 1-3 months of low intake
Primary Complaints	Fatigue, irritability, general weakness, muscle aches	Bleeding gums, easy bruising, poor wound healing, joint pain
Skin Condition	Minimal or no visible changes	Petechiae, ecchymoses, rough and scaly skin
Hair	No noticeable changes	Dry, brittle, and corkscrew-shaped hair
Oral Health	May have initial gum sensitivity	Swollen, purple, bleeding gums; loose teeth
Healing	Slight reduction in healing speed	Wounds may reopen and take a long time to heal

Treatment and Prevention of Scurvy

Scurvy is treatable and preventable.

Treatment

Treatment involves vitamin C supplementation, often high doses orally or intravenously for severe cases. Improvement, especially fatigue, can occur within 24-48 hours. Gum bleeding and bruising may take longer.

Prevention

Preventing deficiency requires adequate daily fruit and vegetable intake.

Dietary Sources: Citrus fruits, bell peppers, strawberries, kiwi, broccoli, and leafy greens are good sources.
Cooking Methods: Vitamin C is heat and water-sensitive. Raw options, steaming, or microwaving help preserve content.
Supplements: Useful for those with dietary restrictions or absorption issues.

Conclusion

Scurvy is the condition caused by a severe, prolonged vitamin C deficiency. Symptoms range from early fatigue to advanced bleeding gums and poor healing. Though rare in some areas, it affects at-risk populations. Scurvy is reversible and preventable with proper nutrition, particularly a diet rich in vitamin C. Consistent intake is key as the body cannot produce or store vitamin C.

For more in-depth medical information on the condition, you can visit the Merck Manuals on Vitamin C Deficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions

The medical name for a severe vitamin C deficiency is scurvy.

Significant symptoms of a vitamin C deficiency can appear after about three months of inadequate intake.

The first symptoms of scurvy are often non-specific and include fatigue, weakness, irritability, and vague muscle and joint aches.

Yes, bleeding gums are a classic symptom of scurvy, the condition caused by severe vitamin C deficiency.

Good food sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits, bell peppers, strawberries, broccoli, kiwifruit, and tomatoes.

Scurvy is treated with vitamin C supplements to restore the body's levels, combined with a nutritious diet rich in vitamin C foods.

Populations at higher risk include smokers, the elderly with poor diets, people with alcohol or drug dependencies, and individuals with certain malabsorption issues.