What is Scurvy? A Short Answer Guide to Vitamin C Deficiency

December 11, 2025 •

3 min read

Historically known for plaguing sailors on long sea voyages, scurvy is a condition caused by a severe, prolonged deficiency of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). A lack of this vital nutrient can lead to a host of debilitating symptoms related to impaired collagen production. While rare in modern developed nations, it can still affect vulnerable populations with poor nutritional access.

Quick Summary

Scurvy is a disease resulting from severe vitamin C deficiency, causing weakness, anemia, bleeding gums, and skin hemorrhages. It is caused by inadequate dietary intake of ascorbic acid, which is necessary for bodily functions like collagen synthesis. The condition is treatable and preventable with proper vitamin C consumption.

Key Points

Core Cause: Scurvy is a disease caused by a severe, prolonged deficiency of vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
Historical Context: Once a major problem for sailors on long voyages, scurvy is now rare in developed countries but still affects vulnerable populations.
Symptom Progression: Initial symptoms include fatigue and joint pain, while advanced stages feature bleeding gums, skin hemorrhages, and poor wound healing.
Collagen Failure: The disease occurs because vitamin C is essential for collagen synthesis, a protein vital for connective tissues.
Treatment and Prevention: Scurvy is easily treatable and preventable with dietary intake of vitamin C-rich foods like citrus fruits and vegetables, or supplements.
Modern Risk Factors: Individuals at risk today include those with poor diets, alcohol use disorder, eating disorders, and limited access to nutritious food.
Prompt Recovery: With appropriate treatment, symptoms can begin to improve within a day, with full recovery possible in a few months.

Scurvy: A Breakdown of the Vitamin C Deficiency Disease

Scurvy is a medical condition caused by a severe lack of vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, over an extended period. Humans cannot produce vitamin C internally, so it must come from the diet. Vitamin C is essential for synthesizing collagen, a protein critical for connective tissues throughout the body. Without enough vitamin C, collagen production suffers, leading to the various signs and symptoms of scurvy.

The Historical and Modern Context of Scurvy

Historically, scurvy was notorious among sailors on long voyages lacking fresh produce. Figures like James Lind showed citrus fruits could prevent it, and the link to vitamin C was confirmed in the 20th century, greatly reducing cases in developed countries.

Today, scurvy is uncommon but can still appear in vulnerable groups. These include the elderly with limited diets, individuals with eating disorders or chronic alcoholism, and those with poor access to fresh foods. Cooking methods that deplete vitamin C can also be a factor.

Symptoms of Scurvy: A Progression of Deficiencies

Symptoms typically start after 1-3 months of low vitamin C intake.

Early symptoms often include:

Fatigue and weakness
Irritability
Muscle and joint pain

As the deficiency worsens, symptoms become more pronounced:

Swollen, bleeding gums
Loose teeth
Skin hemorrhages (small spots or larger bruises)
Dry, rough skin and 'corkscrew' hairs
Poor wound healing
Anemia
Painful joint swelling

Treating and Preventing Scurvy

Treating scurvy involves increasing vitamin C intake, typically through diet, supplements, or IV administration in severe cases. Prevention requires consistent daily consumption of vitamin C-rich foods, as the body doesn't store much of the vitamin.

Key dietary sources of vitamin C:

Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons)
Berries (strawberries, blackcurrants)
Bell peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts
Tomatoes, potatoes, kiwi

Understanding the Difference Between Mild and Severe Vitamin C Issues


Feature	Subclinical Vitamin C Deficiency	Scurvy (Severe Vitamin C Deficiency)
Onset	Can occur within weeks of low intake	Requires a period of 1 to 3 months of severely inadequate intake
Symptoms	Mild symptoms like fatigue, low mood, and some joint pain	Classic symptoms including bleeding gums, petechiae, and poor wound healing
Symptom Severity	Vague, non-specific symptoms	Clear, severe, and multi-systemic manifestations
Diagnosis	Often challenging, as symptoms can mimic other conditions	Confirmed by symptom presentation and rapid response to vitamin C supplementation
Prognosis	Reversible with increased dietary intake; symptoms resolve quickly	Excellent prognosis with treatment, but long-term effects possible if severe dental damage occurs

Diagnosis and Prognosis

Diagnosing scurvy can be tricky early on due to non-specific symptoms. Diagnosis often relies on dietary history and a positive response to vitamin C treatment. Blood tests for vitamin C levels can also help, reflecting recent intake. With prompt treatment, scurvy has an excellent prognosis, with symptoms improving rapidly within 24-48 hours. Full recovery usually takes a few months, though permanent dental or tissue damage from advanced disease may remain.

Conclusion: Scurvy Is Preventable

Scurvy is a severe but easily preventable disease caused by vitamin C deficiency. While less common now, it still highlights the link between nutrition and health, particularly affecting vulnerable populations. Recognizing symptoms like fatigue, joint pain, bleeding gums, and skin issues is crucial for early treatment. Prevention and treatment center on getting enough vitamin C from fruits, vegetables, or supplements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Scurvy is a disease caused by a severe deficiency of vitamin C, leading to symptoms like fatigue, joint pain, bleeding gums, and poor wound healing due to impaired collagen production.

Symptoms of scurvy generally appear after one to three months of insufficient vitamin C intake. Early signs are often vague, such as fatigue and irritability, before more specific and severe symptoms develop.

The first signs of scurvy often include non-specific symptoms like general weakness, fatigue, lethargy, and aching pain in the joints and muscles.

While rare, scurvy can still affect those with poor diets, such as individuals with alcohol use disorder, mental illness, or eating disorders. The elderly, those on restrictive diets, and individuals facing food insecurity are also at risk.

Yes, scurvy is curable with proper and consistent vitamin C supplementation. Most symptoms improve within days to weeks of treatment, though permanent damage from advanced disease, such as to teeth, is possible.

Scurvy can be prevented by consuming a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, including citrus fruits, bell peppers, strawberries, kiwi, and broccoli.

Yes, vitamin C is sensitive to heat, and cooking can significantly reduce the amount available in foods. Eating a mix of raw and lightly cooked fruits and vegetables is recommended.

The primary function of vitamin C is to act as a cofactor for enzymes involved in the synthesis of collagen, a protein essential for the health of skin, blood vessels, bones, and gums.