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Aging and its effect on bone remodeling is the most common cause of bone disorders. In young and healthy people, bone deposition and resorption happen at an equal rate to maintain optimal bone health.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 22, 2026

Effects of Exposure of Formaldehyde to a Rat Model of Atopic Dermatitis Induced by Neonatal Capsaicin Treatment

Effects of Exposure of Formaldehyde to a Rat Model of Atopic Dermatitis Induced by Neonatal Capsaicin Treatment

Published on: September 27, 2017

Scurvy is Back.

Claire Ann Callus¹, Samantha Vella¹, Peter Ferry¹

¹Department of Geriatric Medicine, Karin Grech Hospital, Pietà, Malta.

Nutrition and Metabolic Insights

|November 28, 2018

Summary

Scurvy, a disease from vitamin C deficiency, is surprisingly present in elderly individuals. Prompt diagnosis and vitamin C supplementation led to significant health improvements in two reported cases.

Area of Science:

Internal Medicine
Nutritional Science

Background:

Scurvy, historically known as 'The Pirates' Disease', results from vitamin C deficiency.
Though rare in modern medicine, scurvy can affect vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly.

Observation:

Two elderly male patients presented with symptoms indicative of vitamin C deficiency.
Low vitamin C levels were confirmed through laboratory testing.

Findings:

Patients received vitamin C supplementation as treatment.
Significant improvements were observed in frailty, mood, bleeding tendency, and gum health within weeks.

Implications:

This case report highlights the importance of considering scurvy in elderly patients with non-specific symptoms.

Keywords:

Vitamin C ascorbic acid nutritional deficiency malnutrition scurvy

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Early detection and treatment of vitamin C deficiency are crucial for managing scurvy and improving patient outcomes.