Britons were warned today that poor diet could be to blame for an ancient disease returning in the 21st century.
Scurvy, a disease historically associated with being at sea for months at a time, is “re-emerging”, doctors have said.
Doctors believe the rise in cases is a result of the terrible toll food poverty is taking on people’s health.
But they warned the situation could get worse as people are forced to make further cuts amid the cost of living crisis.
Scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin C, which is found in fruits and vegetables and is essential for keeping skin, blood vessels and ligaments healthy.
Scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin C, which is found in fruits and vegetables and is essential for keeping skin, blood vessels and ligaments healthy.
But while diet is a major contributor to scurvy, there are other factors at play, such as smoking and conditions such as type 1 diabetes.
Sharing a case of a man suffering from the condition as a warning in an academic journal, doctors said “prompt” diagnosis and treatment was “vital”.
The unidentified man, in his 50s, from Australia, arrived at hospital with an unexplained painful rash and bruising on his legs.
While blood tests showed he had an unusually low number of white blood cells, scans failed to identify the cause of his condition.
Only after his rash worsened did it emerge that he ate very little fruit or vegetables and lived mainly on processed foods “due to financial constraints.”
He had also stopped taking vitamin and mineral supplements prescribed after gastric bypass surgery “because he could not afford them,” according to the report.
Further tests showed that his vitamin C levels were so low as to be “undetectable” and he was diagnosed with scurvy.
The patient was treated with 1,000 mg of vitamin C tablets daily and his rash disappeared.
writing in the diary BMJ Case ReportsDoctors warned doctors in the United Kingdom and other Western nations to be on high alert for similar symptoms.
“Lack of treatment can lead to catastrophic bleeding, so early recognition and timely treatment are vital,” they said.
Dr Andrew Dermawan, from Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth, Western Australia, and author of the report, added: “Scurvy is a re-emerging disease due to the rising cost of living.” It can occur as early as a month after a diet deficient in vitamin C.
The first records of scurvy date back to 3,800 BC in Egypt.
Much more was documented from the 16th century onwards and it is estimated that more than 2 million sailors died from this condition between the 16th and 18th centuries.
Sailors were particularly vulnerable due to lack of access to fresh fruits and vegetables on long voyages.
But doctors warned that the cost-of-living crisis was causing a new surge in the condition that had previously been relegated to history.
It was thought to have disappeared in the UK in the 20th century, when it was discovered that a more balanced diet seemed to prevent it.
Vitamin C, a vital nutrient for tissue growth and wound healing, is found in citrus fruits, potatoes, red and chili peppers, strawberries, and tomatoes.
Official figures show there were more than 800,000 admissions in England and Wales last year for conditions linked to poor nutrition, including “Victorian” diseases, scurvy and rickets. Iron deficiency was the biggest problem, NHS data revealed, with admissions for the bone-weakening condition soaring by 149 per cent since 2013.
It is also necessary to produce collagen, an important component of skin, bones, ligaments, blood, muscles and cartilage.
Without vitamin C, the body cannot produce enough collagen or heal as quickly, leading to problems such as bleeding gums and loose teeth, flaky skin, brittle hair, bleeding under the skin, muscle fatigue, anemia, and bruising.
Scurvy can also cause leg swelling and pain, so severe children may refuse to walk.
It comes as the latest official figures show the number of Britons hospitalized for malnutrition and nutritional deficiencies has almost tripled in a decade.
In 2022, there were more than 800,000 admissions in England and Wales for conditions related to poor nutrition, including “Victorian” diseases such as scurvy and rickets.
Iron deficiency was the biggest problem, NHS data revealed, with admissions for the bone-weakening condition soaring by 149 per cent since 2013.
The NHS warns that malnutrition is a “common problem” affecting millions of people in the UK, with those under five, those over 65 and those with long-term health problems most at risk.
One in 10 elderly people is malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, he said.