Vitamin C deficiency

Vitamin C cannot be made by the human body and so is an essential component of the diet. It is needed for the health and repair of various tissues in your body, including skin, bone, teeth and cartilage. Persistent lack of vitamin C in your diet can lead to a condition called scurvy. Symptoms of scurvy include easy bruising, easy bleeding and joint and muscle pains. Vitamin C deficiency can be treated with supplements of vitamin C and a diet rich in vitamin C.

Deficiency, or a lack, of vitamin C in your body happens because of a lack of sufficient amounts of vitamin C in your diet. Over time, a lack of vitamin C means that new collagen cannot be formed. This causes various tissues in your body to start to break down and the health and repair of your body become affected. Persistent (chronic) vitamin C deficiency, usually over a period of around three months or more, can lead to an illness known as scurvy.

  • Sample of blood plasma in EDTA tube
  • We perform the test every Wednesday