Top 8 symptoms of vitamin C deficiency

Vitamin C is widely regarded as one an essential vitamin in a person's daily diet. Vitamin C helps ensure proper cellular growth, helps the circulatory system function well and helps you stay fit and healthy. Therefore if you suspect that you might have a vitamin deficiency, it is time you took it seriously. Diagnosing it early and treating it is essential. While the vitamin is abundantly available in everyday foods, there are still supplements you can take to help keep vitamin C deficiency at bay. Here is all you need to know about the condition and how you can recognise it.

What is Vitamin C deficiency?

Vitamin C deficiency, as the name suggests is due to the lack of Vitamin C in your body. Over a period of time, a deficiency of Vitamin C hampers the formation of collagen, which in turn leads to the breakdown of tissue in the body, affecting the process of repair within the body. If the deficiency of Vitamin C goes on for over three months, it could lead to scurvy.

Think you might have the deficiency? Here are the common symptoms that might help you decide.

Fatigue

Do you tire easily without really knowing why? Fatigue can be attributed to a deficiency of Vitamin C. Tiring easily, feeling like you are always low on energy are hallmark symptoms of vitamin C deficiency. That being said, fatigue is a common symptom of other conditions too, making diagnosing the cause that much more difficult.

Changes in your mood

If you are suffering from a deficiency in Vitamin C, you could be prone to becoming irritated easily and feeling irritable all the time.

Sudden weight loss

You could also experience sudden weight loss as a result of Vitamin C deficiency. While this discovery could make you jump for joy, it isn't necessarily the healthiest way of losing weight. When your body starts losing vital nutrients, losing weight is a way to compensate. Losing weight this way is definitely not good for your body.

Muscle and joint aches

A lack of Vitamin C in your diet could ultimately lead to the development of chronic pain in the muscle, joints and limbs. Also, you could experience stiffness in your joints if you make sudden movements. However, these symptoms can also be attributed to other conditions and diseases as well.

Bruising easily

People with a Vitamin C deficiency will also bruise quite easily. Since the vitamin is required to keep your body in balance, a lack of it can cause you to bruise easily. Therefore, any sign of excessive bruising usually means that your body needs some immediate medical attention.

Dental problems

Vitamin C will helps keep your teeth and gums healthy and problem-free. However, Vitamin C deficiency could cause dental deterioration. If not tended to immediately, periodontal problems could have hazardous consequences as a result. This sort of deficiency can be termed as 'scurvy'. Mariners usually develop this condition because they have very little access to nutrients when they are away sailing at sea. It should be noted that it is quite a frightening condition and requires immediate medical attention.

Dry skin and hair

If you are experiencing a change in skin and hair texture, chances are that your body is not receiving adequate amount of Vitamin C in addition to other necessary minerals and vitamins.

Lowered immunity

When a person is suffering from a deficiency of viamin C, it can have a negative impact the body. This is especially true when it comes to wounds healing and fighting off infections. This is because the immune system weakens as a result of this deficiency. When the white blood cell count decreases, your body is incapable of fighting off infections, making you more prone to contract common infections.

Photo source: Getty images

---

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter.