Tag: History of scurvy

Scurvy, a disease caused by vitamin C deficiency, has been documented since ancient Egypt, inflicting generations of sailors and soldiers with debilitating symptoms. Yet, it wasn't until a meticulous series of observations and groundbreaking laboratory work that the chemical substance known as vitamin C was finally isolated and identified, marking a critical turning point in nutritional science.

According to a 2017-2018 survey, about 5.9% of the U.S. population had vitamin C deficiency, though severe cases like scurvy are rare. This nutritional disease, caused by an extreme lack of vitamin C, leads to widespread bodily damage, a condition once common but now mostly seen in vulnerable populations.

An estimated two million sailors died from scurvy between the 16th and 18th centuries alone, often decimating entire ship crews. The debilitating condition, which is caused by a lack of vitamin C, was a grim reality for many historical populations, leading to immense suffering and death.

During the Age of Sail, scurvy was responsible for killing more British sailors than enemy action. Today, in developed nations, cases are extremely rare, leading many to wonder, **why don't we get scurvy anymore?**