Thursday, February 7, 2013

Does sudden yellow teeth indicate a particular vitamin deficiency?

Q. I've been an orange juice junkie my whole life, but I've been without it for a month now and just noticed my bottom teeth are definitely more yellow than before. I'm wondering if the two could be related. Is this a sign of a Vitamin C or some other vitamin deficiency?

A. This is from http://en.allexperts.com/q/Dentistry-966/toddlers-teeth-turning-yellow.htm

says: The yellow color is probably a surface stain. It is certainly not from a nutritional or vitamin deficiency, nor is it a symptom of an illness.


what do i say if i have to talk to a group about vitamin c deficiency diseases?
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.

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


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.





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