Q. i have to talk about 'scurvy' 'rickets' and something like 'berry berry' to a large group at a pirate themed camp for kids aged nine to twelve. i also have to make smoothies with lots of vitamins, but i really need something to say to the group about lack of vitamin c and the diseases that apply to it.
A. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is essential for the formation of bone and connective tissue (which binds other tissues and organs together). Vitamin C helps the body absorb iron, and it helps burns and wounds heal. Like vitamin E, vitamin C is an antioxidant: It protects cells against damage by free radicals, which are reactive by-products of normal cell activity. Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy. In adults, the deficiency usually results from a diet low in vitamin C. For example, vitamin C deficiency may develop in people who eat only such foods as dried meat, tea, toast, and canned vegetables. Smoking increases the vitamin C requirement by 30 to 50%. Surgery, and burns can significantly increase the body's requirements for vitamin C and the risk of vitamin C deficiency. The diagnosis of scurvy is based on symptoms. Blood tests detect a very low level of vitamin C. Scurvy is treated with daily vitamin C supplements. Such treatment plus iron supplements can cure the anemia.
why do I have dark spots on my leg and thigh?
Q. Hi
I am a 24 year old girl. I have had dark spots on my leg and thigh. Every now and then they appear and after about a week they disappear. I'm sure they are not caused by hitting my foot somewhere. I have heard a lot of reasons for such a condition like "Iron/vitamin C deficiency". I'm almost mixed up. please let me know the reason. Is it related to genetic or malnutrition...?
Thanx for your help.
I am a 24 year old girl. I have had dark spots on my leg and thigh. Every now and then they appear and after about a week they disappear. I'm sure they are not caused by hitting my foot somewhere. I have heard a lot of reasons for such a condition like "Iron/vitamin C deficiency". I'm almost mixed up. please let me know the reason. Is it related to genetic or malnutrition...?
Thanx for your help.
A. Depending on what the spots look like, (colour, shape etc) would vary what they may be, it could be anything from bruising to a rash or malnutrion. A sign of arterial damage or simply an alergy.
Most probably they are not a huge danger if you have been getting them for a long time and they have not adversly affected your health by now.
If you are worried about them then you should see a gp who may recomend you seek help from a dermatologist
Most probably they are not a huge danger if you have been getting them for a long time and they have not adversly affected your health by now.
If you are worried about them then you should see a gp who may recomend you seek help from a dermatologist
What are the effects of taking a lot of vitamin c supplements?
Q. I have these jars with 150 tabs of vitamin c, 500mg each. I take several at a time throughout the day because it makes me feel really good and happy and tastes really good. It's like a drug to me. Is taking extreme amounts of vitamin c supplements bad for you?
A. Yes potentially.
I would seriously advise against doing so.
As a maintenance dose then 250-500mg is really a maximum ideal to aim for.
If you have a cold or flu then that can be increased temporarily to 1000mg but should be reduced back down to a maintenance dose after recovery.
Though vitamin C is not stored, in high doses it is not without its potential problems, which may include: gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), bleeding gums, decreased wound-healing, easy bruising, nosebleeds, weakened tooth enamel, swollen and painful joints, anaemia**, a decreased ability to fight an infection, a slowing of the metabolism that may lead to weight gain, rough, dry, scaly skin and/ or splitting hair.
[from ref: Medline Plus, link: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002404.htm ]
** regarding anaemia however, if one was to supplement with iron, one may have the opposite scenario.....i.e. too much iron stored, which could be a problem, particularly in anyone with haemochromatosis [an iron storage disease] or with a genetic tendency towards it [i.e. it was in the family].
There is also a risk of kidney stone formation in those with a tendency.
So basically, toxic levels of vitamin C in the blood over time [that may occur from taking mega doses regularly] could lead to symptoms ordinarily characteristic of a vitamin C deficiency. Such symptoms may also become apparent [even if you did not have these symptoms when taking high doses] if you were to stop taking it suddenly.
Wean yourself off the high doses in stages so you don't display scurvy symptoms. And after this, take no more than 250-500mg a day as a maintenance dose.
Be safe, be well....insha'Allah.
Best wishes.
I would seriously advise against doing so.
As a maintenance dose then 250-500mg is really a maximum ideal to aim for.
If you have a cold or flu then that can be increased temporarily to 1000mg but should be reduced back down to a maintenance dose after recovery.
Though vitamin C is not stored, in high doses it is not without its potential problems, which may include: gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), bleeding gums, decreased wound-healing, easy bruising, nosebleeds, weakened tooth enamel, swollen and painful joints, anaemia**, a decreased ability to fight an infection, a slowing of the metabolism that may lead to weight gain, rough, dry, scaly skin and/ or splitting hair.
[from ref: Medline Plus, link: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002404.htm ]
** regarding anaemia however, if one was to supplement with iron, one may have the opposite scenario.....i.e. too much iron stored, which could be a problem, particularly in anyone with haemochromatosis [an iron storage disease] or with a genetic tendency towards it [i.e. it was in the family].
There is also a risk of kidney stone formation in those with a tendency.
So basically, toxic levels of vitamin C in the blood over time [that may occur from taking mega doses regularly] could lead to symptoms ordinarily characteristic of a vitamin C deficiency. Such symptoms may also become apparent [even if you did not have these symptoms when taking high doses] if you were to stop taking it suddenly.
Wean yourself off the high doses in stages so you don't display scurvy symptoms. And after this, take no more than 250-500mg a day as a maintenance dose.
Be safe, be well....insha'Allah.
Best wishes.
will a double rex rat have the same health concerns as a hairless rat?
Q. iv heard hairless rats need a warmer environment and have a vitamin c deficiency and and they burn more energy and need special care, does a double rex rat have the came concerns?
A. Hairless rats, double rex (DR) or true, both need a warmer environment and extra protein in their diet.
The protein is because they burn more energy to keep their body temperature regulated.
I've never heard of hairless rats having a vitamin C deficiency, so I have no information on that. However male rats can't have orange juice because it "contains d-limonene which can cause kidney cancer". (http://www.petratscanada.com/forbidden_foods.htm)
Unlike what Wanda said you should NEVER put anything other than pure water in to a rat's water or they could dehydrate themselves. Because they are prey animals they will notice the taste difference and not drink it. Rats should also never be kept in a glass tank because it doesn't provide adequate ventilation and can cause horrible respiratory problems.
You might want to try asking this question on Goosemoose.com since there are many rat knowledgeable people on that website and plenty of DR and true hairless owners.
The protein is because they burn more energy to keep their body temperature regulated.
I've never heard of hairless rats having a vitamin C deficiency, so I have no information on that. However male rats can't have orange juice because it "contains d-limonene which can cause kidney cancer". (http://www.petratscanada.com/forbidden_foods.htm)
Unlike what Wanda said you should NEVER put anything other than pure water in to a rat's water or they could dehydrate themselves. Because they are prey animals they will notice the taste difference and not drink it. Rats should also never be kept in a glass tank because it doesn't provide adequate ventilation and can cause horrible respiratory problems.
You might want to try asking this question on Goosemoose.com since there are many rat knowledgeable people on that website and plenty of DR and true hairless owners.
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