vitamin C deficiency

Question 1

who gets vitamin C deficiency?

Answer 1

ETOH, drug abusers, severely malnourished

dietary insufficient diet (lack of vegetables and fruit)

Question 2

manifestations of scurvy:

Answer 2

cutaneous: petechiae, follicular hemorrhage, and bruising and coiled hairs
gingival: bleeding and receding gums and dental caries

Question 3

constitutional symptoms of scurvy:

Answer 3

arthralgias, weakness, malaise and depression

Question 4

what do we also see with prolonged scurvey?

Answer 4

vasomotor instability (if severe and prolonged)

impaired wound healing

Question 5

treatment of scurvy is:

Answer 5

oral or injectable vitamin C resolves most symptoms in days

Question 6

vitamin C toxicity is (>2-3 g/day)

Answer 6

toxicity: abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea and this can happen with excessive supplementation.

see high LFTs

Question 7

why is vitamin C important?

Answer 7

it is a important for collagen synthesis and deficiency results in formation of immature connective tissue leading to prominent cutaneous findings

Question 8

diagnosis of scurvy is made by

Answer 8

serum ascorbic acid levels