Postepy Hig Med Dosw (Online) 2017 Aug;71(1):747-760

Katedra Biochemii Klinicznej, Collegium Medicum im. Ludwika Rydygiera w Bydgoszczy, Uniwersytet Mikołaja Kopernika w Toruniu.

Vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid) is a micronutrient best known for its anti-scurvy activity in humans. Vitamin C is involved in many biological processes involving enzymatic reactions that are catalyzed by members of dioxygenases which use Fe(II) and 2-oxoglutarate as a co-substrate.The article reviews recent data that suggest the involvement of ascorbate in dioxygenases catalyzed chromatin and DNA modifications which thereby contribute to epigenetic regulation. Read More

Indian Pediatr 2017 Aug;54(8):699

Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, Punjab, India

Int J Paleopathol 2017 Sep 16;18:92-97. Epub 2017 Jun 16.

Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD7 1DP, UK. Electronic address:

Recent analysis of the juvenile (≤12 years) human remains from a 19th century site in Wolverhampton, England revealed a relatively high level of nutritional deficiency diseases within the population. Indeed, 41.7% of the 48 juvenile skeletons analysed exhibited a combination of porous and proliferative bone lesions consistent with the pathological alterations associated with nutritional stress. Read More

Int J Paleopathol 2017 Sep 23;18:108-120. Epub 2017 Jun 23.

Universidad de Tarapacá, Instituto de Alta Investigación, Chile.

Studies of contemporary populations have demonstrated an association between decreased dietary diversity due to resource scarcity or underutilization and an increase in diseases related to poor micronutrient intake. With a reduction of dietary diversity, it is often the women and children in a population who are the first to suffer the effects of poor micronutrient status. Scurvy, a disease of prolonged vitamin C deficiency, is a micronutrient malnutrition disorder associated with resource scarcity, low dietary diversity, and/or dependence on high carbohydrate staple-foods. Read More

Pract Lab Med 2016 Dec 4;6:25-37. Epub 2016 Sep 4.

Department of Pathology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States.

Objectives: Vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble micronutrient necessary for human life. Inadequate intake can lead to the fatal disease scurvy. Measurement of vitamin C is used to assess nutritional status and to monitor supplementation. Read More

J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2017 Aug 17. Epub 2017 Aug 17.

Laboratory of Skin Bioengineering and Imaging (LABIC), Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.

Background: Bateman purpura is characterized by diffuse senile skin atrophy, senile purpura and spontaneous stellar pseudocicatrices. Cutaneous changes in the course of ageing have been related to lower levels of ascorbic acid into the dermis of elderly people.

Objective: In this study, we postulate that senile purpura could be linked to dermal vitamin C deficiency and could be corrected by topical administration of this vitamin. Read More

Int J Dermatol 2017 Aug 22. Epub 2017 Aug 22.

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Scotland, UK.

J Int Med Res 2017 Jan 1:300060517714387. Epub 2017 Jan 1.

1 Department of Medicine 1, University of Erlangen - Nuremberg, Germany.

Objectives Vitamin C deficiency is considered extremely rare in modern industrialized countries. This study was performed to assess vitamin C concentrations in the German population. Methods As part of a consultant-patient seminar on nutrition and food intolerances, patients were asked to participate in this study on a voluntary basis. Read More

Neurologia 2017 Jul 15. Epub 2017 Jul 15.

Servicio de Radiología, Hospital Universitario de La Princesa, Madrid, España.

Eur J Dermatol 2017 Jul 8. Epub 2017 Jul 8.

Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.

Diagn Interv Imaging 2017 Jun 21. Epub 2017 Jun 21.

Department of Radiology, pediatric imaging, CHU de Rennes, 35203 Rennes, France. Electronic address:

Vasc Med 2017 Aug 13;22(4):351-352. Epub 2017 Jun 13.

1 University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Department of Rheumatology, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Am J Phys Anthropol 2017 Sep 8;164(1):76-96. Epub 2017 Jun 8.

Department of Archaeology & Anthropology, Leverhulme Centre for Human Evolutionary Studies, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Objectives: Porotic hyperostosis (PH), characterized by porotic lesions on the cranial vault, and cribra orbitalia (CO), a localized appearance of porotic lesions on the roof of the orbits, are relatively common osteological conditions. Their etiology has been the focus of several studies, and an association with anemia has long been suggested. Anemia often causes bone marrow hypertrophy or hyperplasia, leading to the expansion in trabecular or cranial diploic bone as a result of increased hematopoiesis. Read More

S Afr Med J 2017 Apr 25;107(5):379-380. Epub 2017 Apr 25.

Steve Biko Centre for Bioethics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Health research, as a social good, needs to be conducted in the interests of the common good. Because of the unfortunate exploitation of research participants globally, safeguards for protections are necessary. Most international codes and guidelines originated as responses to the abuse and mistreatment of research subjects. Read More

N Z Med J 2017 Apr 28;130(1454):86-87. Epub 2017 Apr 28.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Counties Manukau District Health Board, Otahuhu, Auckland.

Endocrinol Diabetes Nutr 2017 Feb 1;64(2):119-120. Epub 2017 Feb 1.

Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital General Universitario de Elche, Elche, Alicante, España.

Reumatol Clin 2017 Apr 19. Epub 2017 Apr 19.

Unidad de Enfermedades Autoinmunes Sistémicas, Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Asturias, España.

J Transl Med 2017 Apr 14;15(1):77. Epub 2017 Apr 14.

Centre for Postgraduate Nursing Studies, University of Otago, Christchurch, PO Box 4345, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand.

The vitamin C deficiency disease scurvy is characterised by musculoskeletal pain and recent epidemiological evidence has indicated an association between suboptimal vitamin C status and spinal pain. Furthermore, accumulating evidence indicates that vitamin C administration can exhibit analgesic properties in some clinical conditions. The prevalence of hypovitaminosis C and vitamin C deficiency is high in various patient groups, such as surgical/trauma, infectious diseases and cancer patients. Read More

Quintessence Int 2017 ;48(5):407-411

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that can affect all aspects of life, including nutrition. This case reports a patient with ASD in which gingival bleeding was the key finding that led to a diagnosis of scurvy. The literature review discusses behavioral food aversions in patients with ASD that lead to significant nutritional deficiencies, such as scurvy. Read More

Orbit 2017 Jun 31;36(3):170-172. Epub 2017 Mar 31.

a Service D'Ophtalmologie CHU Nord , Marseille , France.

Pediatr Int 2017 Mar;59(3):357-358

Department of Radiology, Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Center, Fuchu, Tokyo, Japan.

ACG Case Rep J 2017 1;4:e29. Epub 2017 Mar 1.

Gastroenterology Department, Centro Hospitalar do Algarve, Faro, Portugal.

Curr Opin Biotechnol 2017 Apr 21;44:153-160. Epub 2017 Feb 21.

Queensland University of Technology, Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, Institute for Future Environments, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, QLD 4001, Australia.

Ascorbate (or vitamin C) is an essential human micronutrient predominantly obtained from plants. In addition to preventing scurvy, it is now known to have broader roles in human health, for example as a cofactor for enzymes involved in epigenetic programming and as regulator of cellular iron uptake. Furthermore, ascorbate is the major antioxidant in plants and underpins many environmentally induced abiotic stress responses. Read More

J Pediatr Neurosci 2016 Oct-Dec;11(4):355-357

Department of Pediatrics, Sir T Hospital, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India.

Scurvy usually presents with tender and painful limbs, swelling of joints, gum bleeding, poor wound healing, and muscle weakness. Here, we report a case of 5-year-old child with global developmental delay who presented with soft swelling of the head over scalp and protrusion of the left eye with extremely irritability. Neuroimaging was suggestive of diffuse extensive soft-tissue swelling involving the entire scalp with large necrotic collections with mild proptosis of the left orbit. Read More

Pharmacogn Mag 2017 Jan-Mar;13(49):136-140

Central Laboratory of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China.

Context: Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) as a traditional Chinese medicinal plant has various uses in Xinjiang.

Objective: A reversed-phase rapid-resolution liquid-chromatography method with diode array detector was developed for simultaneous determination of protocatechuic acid, rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin in the pulp and seed of sea buckthorn, a widely used traditional Chinese medicine for promoting metabolism and treating scurvy and other diseases. Read More

BMJ 2017 Feb 9;356:j251. Epub 2017 Feb 9.

Department of Haematology, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK

Int J Oncol 2017 Feb 2;50(2):414-420. Epub 2017 Jan 2.

Institute of Fisheries Science, Pukyong National University, Ilgwang-myeon, Gijang-gun, Busan 619-911, Republic of Korea.

The representative halophyte Calystegia soldanella (L) Roem. et Schult is a perennial vine herb that grows in coastal dunes throughout South Korea as well as in other regions around the world. This plant has long been used as an edible and medicinal herb to cure rheumatic arthritis, sore throat, dropsy, and scurvy. Read More

J Am Acad Dermatol 2017 Feb;76(2S1):S52-S54

Department of Medicine, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa, Brazil.

J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2017 Jan 30;15(1):94-96. Epub 2016 Dec 30.

Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Hospital of the Saarland, Homburg/Saar, Germany.

CMAJ 2017 02 19;189(7):E275-E278. Epub 2016 Dec 19.

Division of Paediatric Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont.

BMJ 2016 Dec 7;355:i6540. Epub 2016 Dec 7.

London.

Int J Infect Dis 2017 Mar 30;56:176-180. Epub 2016 Nov 30.

Centre for Clinical Microbiology, Division of Infection and Immunity, Royal Free Campus, University College London, London NW3 2PF, UK. Electronic address:

Ancient and historical tuberculosis (TB) can be recognized by its typical paleopathology in human remains. Using paleomicrobiology, it is possible to detect many more individuals infected with TB but with no visible lesions. Due to advances in molecular analysis over the past two decades, it is clear that TB was widespread in humans from the Neolithic period and has remained so until the present day. Read More

J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract 2016 Nov - Dec;4(6):1167-1168

Department of Pediatrics, University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles, Calif. Electronic address:

Pan Afr Med J 2016 30;24:180. Epub 2016 Jun 30.

The Pan African Medical Journal, Center for Public Health Research and Information, Nairobi, Kenya.

Health research serves to answer questions concerning health and to accumulate facts (evidence) required to guide healthcare policy and practice. However, research designs vary and different types of healthcare questions are best answered by different study designs. For example, qualitative studies are best suited for answering questions about experiences and meaning; cross-sectional studies for questions concerning prevalence; cohort studies for questions regarding incidence and prognosis; and randomised controlled trials for questions on prevention and treatment. Read More

Pediatr Radiol 2017 Feb 24;47(2):214-220. Epub 2016 Oct 24.

Department of Radiology, Texas Children's Hospital, 6701 Fannin St., Suite 470, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.

Background: Until recently scurvy has been viewed in developed countries as a disease of the past. More recently there have been reports of case series of children with scurvy who have had a delayed diagnosis after an extensive diagnostic workup that included imaging. Most of these children have had underlying neurologic conditions such as autism. Read More

J Ren Nutr 2016 Nov 23;26(6):407-411. Epub 2016 Apr 23.

Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage renal disease are at risk for vitamin C deficiency and scurvy due to diet restriction, increased urinary loss of the water-soluble vitamin C with diuretics, and in case of patients who are on dialysis, through dialysates. The condition may be overlooked as the clinical manifestation of scurvy may be subtle, and some presentations may mimic clinical signs in CKD. We reported a case of scurvy presenting with gingival bleeding and blood dialysate in a 6-year-old girl with end-stage renal disease who was on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Read More

Radiographics 2016 Oct;36(6):1871-1887

From the Division of Musculoskeletal Imaging and Intervention, Department of Radiology (C.Y.C., D.I.R., S.V.K., A.J.H.), and the Pediatric Endocrine Division, Department of Pediatrics (D.M.M.), Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit St, Yawkey 6E, Boston, MA 02114; and the Department of Radiology, St. Luke's International Hospital, Tokyo, Japan (A.H.).

Metabolic bone diseases are a diverse group of diseases that result in abnormalities of (a) bone mass, (b) structure mineral homeostasis, (c) bone turnover, or (d) growth. Osteoporosis, the most common metabolic bone disease, results in generalized loss of bone mass and deterioration in the bone microarchitecture. Impaired chondrocyte development and failure to mineralize growth plate cartilage in rickets lead to widened growth plates and frayed metaphyses at sites of greatest growth. Read More

Am J Phys Anthropol 2017 Feb 3;162(2):208-228. Epub 2016 Oct 3.

Department of Archaeology, School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science, University of Reading, Reading, Berkshire, RG6 6AB, UK.

Objectives: The current understanding of child morbidity in Roman England is dominated by studies of single sites/regions. Much of the data are derived from third to fifth century AD Poundbury Camp, Dorchester, Dorset, considered an unusual site due to high levels of non-adult morbidity. There is little understanding of children in rural areas, and whether Poundbury Camp was representative of Romano-British childhood. Read More

Circ Heart Fail 2016 Oct;9(10)

Department of Medicine, Rochester General Hospital, NY (F.A., L.D.H., R.S., L.v.D.).

PM R 2016 Sep 24;8(9S):S255-S256. Epub 2016 Sep 24.

Sinai Hospital of Baltimore/University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, United States.

Dent Update 2016 Jun;43(5):492

Int J Mol Sci 2016 Aug 12;17(8). Epub 2016 Aug 12.

Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.

Vitamin C is a powerful dietary antioxidant that has received considerable attention in the literature related to its possible role in heart health. Although classical vitamin C deficiency, marked by scurvy, is rare in most parts of the world, some research has shown variable heart disease risks depending on plasma vitamin C concentration, even within the normal range. Furthermore, other studies have suggested possible heart-related benefits to vitamin C taken in doses beyond the minimal amounts required to prevent classically defined deficiency. Read More

CMAJ 2016 Aug 8. Epub 2016 Aug 8.

Andrew W. Mellon Professor of the Humanities, Department of English, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.Author of The Things Things Say (2011) and Scurvy, the Disease of Discovery (fall 2016).

Ann Dermatol Venereol 2017 Feb 5;144(2):125-129. Epub 2016 Aug 5.

Service de médecine interne générale, hôpitaux universitaires de Genève, 1206 Genève, Suisse; Service de médecine interne, hôpital de la Tour, 1217 Meyrin-Genève, Suisse.

Introduction: Scurvy, or "Barlow's disease", is a widely described disease involving cutaneous and mucosal lesions resulting from vitamin C deficiency. Herein, we report a case of scurvy in a 48-year-old woman that was unusual in its atypical cutaneous-mucosal presentation as well as its association with anorexia nervosa.

Patients And Methods: A 48-year-old woman treated for depression for several years was admitted to hospital for her impaired general state of health. Read More

Arch Dis Child 2016 Sep 28;101(9):871. Epub 2016 Jul 28.

University Department of Pediatrics, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Fiumicino, Italy.

J Pediatr 2016 Oct 15;177:331. Epub 2016 Jul 15.

Department of Radiology St. Luke's International Hospital Tokyo, Japan.

J Cutan Med Surg 2016 Nov 14;20(6):592-595. Epub 2016 Jul 14.

Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Importance: Scurvy remains prevalent in certain populations, including addicts, people of low socioeconomic status, and the severely malnourished. It classically presents as follicular hyperkeratosis and perifollicular hemorrhage of the lower extremities, as well as bleeding in other areas such as the gingiva and joints. This case presentation and literature review highlights the common pathophysiological findings associated with scurvy and current methods of diagnosis and treatment. Read More

Med Sante Trop 2016 May;26(2):122-9

Centre René Labusquière, université de Bordeaux, 33 076 Bordeaux cedex, France, Service de réanimation polyvalente, CHU de La Réunion, hôpital Félix Guyon, 97405 Saint-Denis, France.

In 1498, the Portuguese crossed the Cape of Good Hope. It was not until the period of 1633 and 1666, dates of the founding, respectively, of the Compagnie de l'Orient and the Compagnie des Indes orientales, that the way was definitively opened for trade between France and India. Because so many sailors developed scurvy after voyages that lasted 4 to 5 months, the French settled on Bourbon Island (Réunion) and Ile de France (Mauritius), to provide them with medical care. Read More

Biochemistry 2016 Jun 31;55(23):3224-33. Epub 2016 May 31.

Department of Biochemistry and ‡Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States.

Collagen is the most abundant protein in animals. The posttranslational hydroxylation of proline residues in collagen contributes greatly to its conformational stability. Deficient hydroxylation is associated with a variety of disease states, including scurvy. Read More

Postgrad Med 2016 Aug 8;128(6):629-31. Epub 2016 Jun 8.

a Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven , CT , USA.

Bleeding disorders are common. In addition to thinking about disorders relating to abnormal platelets or clotting factors, clinicians should consider disorders of vascular integrity in their differential diagnosis. We present a patient with atypical, spontaneous bleeding that was due to scurvy, an often overlooked cause. Read More