What Causes a Lack of Vitamin C in the Body?

November 7, 2025 •

3 min read

According to a study conducted by the NHS, certain populations remain at risk for scurvy, the disease caused by a severe vitamin C deficiency. This highlights that a lack of vitamin C in the body can be caused by various factors, extending beyond a simple lack of citrus fruits in one's diet.

Quick Summary

A lack of vitamin C is primarily caused by insufficient dietary intake, but is also influenced by lifestyle choices and certain medical conditions that affect absorption or increase the body's needs. Factors like smoking, alcoholism, and restrictive diets significantly heighten the risk of developing a deficiency.

Key Points

Poor Diet: The most common cause is a diet consistently lacking in fresh fruits and vegetables, which are the primary sources of vitamin C.
Smoking: This habit depletes the body's vitamin C stores faster and reduces absorption, requiring smokers to consume more to maintain adequate levels.
Malabsorption Issues: Conditions like Crohn's disease, celiac disease, and certain gastrointestinal surgeries can impair the body's ability to absorb the vitamin.
Chronic Illnesses: Diseases such as cancer and kidney failure can increase the body's metabolic demand for vitamin C.
Overcooking Foods: Since vitamin C is water-soluble and heat-sensitive, boiling or prolonged cooking can destroy a significant amount of the vitamin in food.
Alcoholism: Excessive alcohol consumption interferes with nutrient absorption and often leads to a poor overall diet, increasing deficiency risk.
Increased Physiological Need: Pregnant and breastfeeding women naturally have higher vitamin C requirements.

Introduction to Vitamin C Deficiency

Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is an essential water-soluble vitamin that the human body cannot produce on its own. It plays a crucial role in numerous bodily functions, including collagen formation, wound healing, immune system support, and acting as a powerful antioxidant. Because the body cannot store large amounts of it, a consistent dietary intake is necessary to prevent a deficiency. While severe deficiency leading to scurvy is rare in developed countries, milder forms are more common and can still impact overall health significantly. Understanding the root causes is the first step toward prevention.

The Primary Culprit: Inadequate Dietary Intake

The most common reason for low vitamin C levels is not eating enough foods rich in this nutrient. This is often seen in individuals with limited food access, restrictive diets, or those with poor eating habits. Cooking methods also play a role, as heating can reduce the vitamin C content in food.

Low consumption of fresh produce: A diet lacking sufficient fruits and vegetables is the leading cause.
Overcooking or improper storage: Heat, light, and air can degrade vitamin C. Boiling, in particular, can greatly reduce the amount available in food.
Restrictive diets: Unbalanced or highly limited diets often do not provide enough vitamin C.

Lifestyle and Environmental Factors

Certain lifestyle choices can increase the body's need for vitamin C or hinder its absorption.

Smoking: Tobacco use increases the body's requirement for vitamin C and depletes its stores. Smokers may need an additional 35 mg per day.
Excessive alcohol: Alcoholism can lead to poor nutrient absorption and overall malnutrition.
Social factors: Issues like isolation and food insecurity can negatively impact dietary quality.

Medical Conditions Affecting Vitamin C Levels

Underlying health issues can interfere with how the body handles vitamin C.

Malabsorption: Conditions such as Crohn's disease, celiac disease, and certain surgeries reduce the gut's ability to absorb vitamins.
Chronic illnesses: Diseases like cancer, kidney disease, and thyroid problems can increase the body's demand or affect vitamin metabolism.
Iron overload: This can cause the kidneys to excrete more vitamin C.

Table: Factors Influencing Vitamin C Levels


Factor	Impact on Vitamin C	Explanation
Inadequate Diet	Directly reduces intake	Not consuming enough fresh fruits and vegetables is the most common cause of deficiency.
Smoking	Increases depletion rate	Nicotine and other toxins in smoke increase oxidative stress, using up the body's vitamin C stores faster.
Alcoholism	Interferes with absorption	Chronic alcohol use can damage the digestive system and lead to overall poor nutrient absorption.
Malabsorption Issues	Reduces intestinal uptake	Conditions like Crohn's and celiac disease prevent the proper absorption of nutrients, including vitamin C.
Chronic Disease	Increases bodily requirements	Illnesses such as cancer or renal failure can increase the body's demand for vitamins or affect their metabolic use.
Food Preparation	Destroys vitamin content	Vitamin C is water-soluble and heat-sensitive; overcooking and long-term storage reduce its availability.
Pregnancy/Lactation	Increases physiological needs	The body's requirement for vitamin C is naturally higher to support both the mother and developing baby.

Diagnosis and Prevention

If symptoms like fatigue or bleeding gums suggest a deficiency, a healthcare provider can diagnose it based on symptoms and possibly a blood test. Preventing a deficiency usually involves ensuring sufficient intake.

How to Prevent a Lack of Vitamin C

Eat a balanced diet: Include plenty of vitamin C-rich foods like citrus fruits, berries, and vegetables. Aim for multiple servings daily.
Consider supplements: Supplements may be helpful for those with increased needs or poor absorption, but consult a doctor first.
Improve cooking methods: Steaming or microwaving can help preserve vitamin C better than boiling.
Address underlying conditions: Managing health issues that affect absorption or increase requirements is crucial.
Seek support: Programs exist for individuals facing food insecurity or addiction, which can contribute to poor nutrition.

Conclusion

A lack of vitamin C is primarily caused by not consuming enough through diet, but lifestyle factors like smoking, chronic illnesses, and food preparation methods also contribute. Correcting a deficiency requires increasing dietary intake and addressing any underlying medical or lifestyle issues. A balanced diet rich in fresh produce, managing health conditions, and being mindful of lifestyle habits can help prevent this deficiency. For more information, the National Institutes of Health offers extensive resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

The main cause of a vitamin C deficiency is a diet with inadequate intake of fresh fruits and vegetables. Since the human body cannot produce or store vitamin C, consistent dietary consumption is required.

Yes, smoking significantly affects vitamin C levels. It increases the body's need for the vitamin and depletes stores more quickly, requiring smokers to consume a higher daily amount to compensate.

Yes, several medical conditions can cause a lack of vitamin C, including malabsorption disorders like Crohn's disease, chronic illnesses like cancer or kidney disease, and certain surgeries.

A lack of vitamin C can lead to scurvy, but they are not the same. A lack of vitamin C refers to a deficiency, while scurvy is the disease that results from a severe and prolonged deficiency.

Vitamin C is sensitive to heat and water, so cooking methods like boiling can cause a significant loss of the vitamin. Steaming or microwaving can help preserve more of the content.

Yes, older adults can be at higher risk for vitamin C deficiency due to factors like poor appetite, dental issues, social isolation, or limited access to fresh produce, leading to a poorer overall diet.

Yes, excessive alcohol consumption is a risk factor for vitamin C deficiency because it interferes with the body's ability to absorb nutrients and often leads to a reduced appetite and poor nutritional intake.