What Vitamin is Used to Prevent Scurvy?

January 7, 2026 •

2 min read

According to the National Institutes of Health, vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is essential for numerous bodily functions and is the key nutrient used to prevent scurvy. Historically a notorious disease among sailors on long voyages, modern understanding of nutrition has made this deficiency-related illness rare, though not extinct.

Quick Summary

This article details how vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is the essential nutrient for preventing scurvy. It explores the function of this vitamin, common deficiency symptoms, and provides extensive information on dietary sources and supplementation to maintain good health.

Key Points

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid): This is the specific vitamin used to prevent scurvy by supporting crucial bodily functions.
Collagen Synthesis: Vitamin C's primary role in preventing scurvy is enabling the body to produce collagen, which maintains the integrity of connective tissues throughout the body.
Symptoms of Deficiency: Symptoms of scurvy can start with fatigue and weakness before progressing to bleeding gums, bruising, and poor wound healing.
Excellent Food Sources: Fruits like oranges and strawberries, and vegetables such as broccoli and peppers, are high in vitamin C.
Supplements are an Option: Vitamin C supplements are available for those who cannot obtain enough through their diet or have a confirmed deficiency.
Risk Factors Exist: Though rare, certain conditions like alcoholism, eating disorders, and severely restricted diets can increase the risk of vitamin C deficiency.
Prevention is Simple: Maintaining a balanced diet with a consistent intake of vitamin C-rich foods is the most straightforward and effective prevention strategy.

The Crucial Role of Vitamin C in Scurvy Prevention

Scurvy, a disease caused by severe vitamin C deficiency, can have a range of unpleasant symptoms, from bleeding gums and fatigue to slow wound healing and joint pain. The good news is that this condition is both easily treatable and preventable by ensuring an adequate intake of vitamin C in your diet.

How Does Vitamin C Prevent Scurvy?

The core function of vitamin C that prevents scurvy is its vital role in collagen synthesis. Collagen is a structural protein essential for the health of connective tissues in the skin, bones, and blood vessels. Insufficient vitamin C hinders collagen production, leading to weakened tissues and scurvy symptoms.

Symptoms of Vitamin C Deficiency

Even a mild deficiency can impact health, with early symptoms including fatigue, joint pain, irritability, impaired wound healing, and easy bruising.

Dietary Sources of Vitamin C

The human body cannot produce vitamin C, so dietary intake is crucial. Excellent sources include citrus fruits, berries, cruciferous vegetables, peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes.

The Historical Connection to Sailors

The historical link between scurvy and sailors is due to their lack of fresh produce. James Lind's 1747 discovery that citrus fruits cured the ailment highlighted the importance of diet.

Supplementation vs. Dietary Intake for Scurvy Prevention

A balanced diet is ideal, but supplements can help, especially for those at risk.


Feature	Dietary Vitamin C	Vitamin C Supplements
Source	Natural in produce and some fortified foods.	Manufactured forms.
Nutrient Synergy	Includes other beneficial nutrients.	Concentrated dose, lacks accompanying nutrients.
Absorption	Generally more efficient with other food compounds.	May be less absorbed at high doses.
Recommended for	Most people with a balanced diet.	Those with malabsorption, alcoholism, limited diets, or confirmed deficiency.
Risk of Overdose	Very low from food.	Potential side effects at high doses (above 2,000 mg/day).

Conclusion

Scurvy, a preventable disease from severe vitamin C deficiency, is rare today due to fresh produce availability. Preventing scurvy is best achieved through a diet rich in vitamin C from fruits and vegetables. Supplements are an option for those unable to get enough from their diet.

For further reading on the history and modern understanding of scurvy, you can visit the NCBI website.

Key Takeaways

Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid): This is the specific vitamin used to prevent scurvy.
Essential for Collagen: Vitamin C is critical for collagen synthesis, supporting connective tissues.
Dietary Sources are Key: A diet rich in vitamin C fruits and vegetables is the best prevention.
Symptoms of Deficiency: Look for fatigue, joint pain, easy bruising, and slow wound healing.
Risk Factors: At-risk groups include those with poor nutrition or restrictive diets.
Supplements can help: Supplements are effective for those with insufficient dietary intake.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary vitamin needed to prevent scurvy is vitamin C, also known by its scientific name, ascorbic acid.

Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy by impairing the body's ability to synthesize collagen, a vital protein for connective tissues. Without enough collagen, tissues weaken, leading to symptoms like bleeding gums and poor wound healing.

Common food sources of vitamin C include citrus fruits (oranges, lemons), berries (strawberries, kiwis), bell peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, and potatoes.

Yes, although it is rare in most developed countries, scurvy can still occur in individuals with extremely poor nutrition, alcoholism, severe mental health issues, or highly restrictive diets.

Scurvy is easily and quickly treated with vitamin C supplementation. Many symptoms begin to resolve within 24 to 48 hours of treatment, with full recovery possible within a few weeks.

For most people, getting vitamin C from a varied diet of fruits and vegetables is best, as it also provides other important nutrients. Supplements can be useful for those with specific deficiencies or risk factors.

A relatively small amount of vitamin C is needed to prevent scurvy, with just 10 mg per day shown to be effective in historical studies. However, recommended daily allowances are higher to maintain optimal health.