What causes vitamin C deficiency?

Our bodies need a lot of vitamin C support to function better, but in some cases, the body will have vitamin C deficiency problems. But what causes vitamin C deficiency? Everyone needs to have a full understanding of these pathogenic factors so as to avoid vitamin C deficiency from the source.

Diseases caused by vitamin C deficiency include scurvy. It is common in children, with a slow onset, and the main symptoms are swollen gums, congestion, bleeding, skin ecchymosis, limb pain, weakness and fatigue, and anemia. Bone changes in children.

Main symptoms include gingival swelling, congestion, and bleeding

It is more common in northern my country, and is more likely to occur in winter and spring. Vitamin C is also called ascorbic acid or ascorbate. Since the human body lacks gulonolactone oxidase, it cannot convert gulonolactone (a-keto-L-gulonolactone) into L-ascorbic acid. Therefore, the human body cannot synthesize ascorbic acid and needs to be regularly supplied with vitamin C from food.

Causes of vitamin C deficiency

1. Inadequate intake

Breast milk contains 227-400 μmol/L of vitamin C, so breastfed babies are generally not prone to illness. However, if the mother's diet lacks vitamin C for a long time, the insufficient breast milk content can also make the baby sick. The vitamin C content in raw milk is only 85μmol/L, and it is completely destroyed after boiling.

Vitamin C is mainly found in fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables, because the lack of fruits and vegetables or in industrialized cities, because of neglect of food, not adding fruits and vegetables may lead to vitamin C deficiency.

2. Absorption disorder

Long-term digestive dysfunction can affect the absorption and utilization of vitamin C.

3. Increased demand

The requirement for vitamin C increases during periods of accelerated growth and development, febrile illness, and wound healing. Vitamin C deficiency may occur if intake is insufficient.