Do I Have Vitamin C Deficiency?

Do you feel unusually tired or fatigued?

Are you in a poor mood, feeling irritable or depressed?

Do you have small acne-like bumps on the arms, thighs or buttocks?

Do you have abnormally bent, coiled or corkscrew-shaped body hairs (your hair grow in bent or coiled shapes)?

Do you have a small, bright red spots that appear around the hair follicles (perifollicular hemorrhage)?

Do you have spoon-shaped fingernails and red spots or vertical lines underneath the nail bed?

Do you have thin and brittle nails?

Do you have a dry, damaged skin?

Do you bruise easily?

Have you noticed that your wounds heal slowly?

Do you have painful, swollen joints?

Do you have red, swollen, bleeding gums or perhaps you lost a tooth for no obvious reason?

Do you often get sick having some type of infection?

Do you have a diagnosis of Iron deficiency anemia?

Have you gain weight unexplainably?

Are you a smoker?

Do you eat a diet low in fresh fruits and vegetables?

Based on your answers it is unlikely that you have vitamin C deficiency. Nowadays, in developed countries, vitamin C deficiency is quite rare, but it still can be caused by a diet low in vitamin C. It affects 1 in 20 people in the U.S. Vitamin C is a crucial part of a healthy diet. It breaks down easily when exposed to heat, so raw fruits and vegetables are better sources of vitamin C than cooked ones. Citrus fruits, strawberries, broccoli, tomatoes, sweet peppers, and potatoes are excellent sources of this vitamin. Human body cannot synthesize vitamin C, so it must be a part of your diet.

Based on your answers there is a possibility that you have vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C or L-ascorbic acid is a water-soluble vitamin that has an important role in the human body. It is required for the formation of bones, skin and connective tissue. Daily needs for vitamin C are slightly different for men and women. Men need 90mg of vitamin C per day and women 75 mg of vitamin C daily. Since, tobacco reduces the absorption of vitamin C, smokers should get an additional 35 mg a day. Increased intake of fruits and vegetables or vitamin C supplements can usually correct the deficiency.

Based on your answers there is a high possibility that you have vitamin C deficiency. Vitamin C, also called L-ascorbic acid has impressive health benefits that include protection against immune system deficiencies, heart and eye disease and even skin wrinkling. The human body is unable to produce and store large amounts of vitamin C, so it is necessary to eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day. Your doctor can make a diagnosis of vitamin C deficiency based on your symptoms and blood tests. Treatment includes dietary changes and oral vitamin C. Taking vitamin C supplements cannot be toxic, but daily intake over 2000 mg can cause stomach problems.