Severe vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy, whose signs can appear within about a month of getting less than about 10 mg a day. Scurvy is rare in developed countries but still occurs in people with very limited diets, and it can be fatal if untreated. Intakes below the RDA but above that level are more likely in people who smoke, infants fed evaporated or boiled cow's milk, people with limited diets and people with malabsorption or certain chronic diseases.
Common symptoms
Fatigue and feeling unwell
Inflamed, swollen or bleeding gums
Small red or purple spots on the skin and easy bruising
Joint pain
Poor wound healing
Rough, thickened skin
Corkscrew-shaped body hairs
Loose teeth or tooth loss (advanced)
Iron deficiency anemia from bleeding and poor iron absorption
Depression
At-risk groups
People who smoke (they need 35 mg more a day) and people exposed to secondhand smoke
Infants fed evaporated or boiled cow's milk
People with very limited diets, including some older adults on low incomes who prepare their own food
People with alcohol or drug use disorders
People with severe intestinal malabsorption or cachexia
People with end-stage kidney disease on long-term hemodialysis
When to see a doctorEasy bruising, bleeding gums and slow wound healing in someone with a limited diet should be checked by a doctor. Vitamin C deficiency is treatable, and a blood test of vitamin C can help confirm it. Without treatment, scurvy can be fatal.