Scurvy: Vitamin C and United Nations Children

Vitamin C is an essential in the body's defenses against infection. Susceptible children will not tolerate relatively unimportant infections and this can lead to prolonged illness and in the case of behaviorally disturbed children of symptoms previously well managed. Vitamin C is an extremely safe substance which is immensely beneficial to the brain and body in a multitude of ways. Its potential for preventing and treating autism has barely been touched. Vitamin C is heavily concentrated in the brain, but its exact role in brain function has not been fully understood. A recent search turned up 400 references referring to vitamin C and the effects of the brain, but the mystery still remains.

Children who are malnourish and vitamin A deficient are two times more likely to die compare to those receiving a vitamin A supplement. This increase in mortality rate is due to the vulnerability state of the child that caused by lack of nutrition. Moreover, the scarcity of the proper mineral and vitamins for pregnant mothers has cause more than 13 million underweight and premature births. Over the years Vitamins B, D, and C have proven to cure disease such as pellagra, rickets and scurvy and although this might seem easy fixes for the richer

Without a proper diet or a serious lack of nutrition a person is making his or her self susceptible to all sorts of diseases. All people, young and old, need to have a healthy and nutritional diet if they want to avoid the many diseases caused by poor nutrition. One disease young children are at risk for is rickets. Rickets is caused by a vitamin D, calcium, and phosphorus deficiency. Rickets is the softening and weakening of the bones in children. Skeletal deformities and fractures can occur because the bones are so soft and weak. Rickets is seen during periods of rapid growth because during growth a great deal of vitamin D, phosphorus, and calcium are needed. “The predominant cause is a

Since most cooking methods deplete the content of vitamin C, one of the best methods for adding it to one’s diet is to eat citrus fruits raw, or to very lightly cook green vegetables like broccoli. Spinach salad is a tasty way to add more vitamin C to your diet. Vitamin C has recently been added not just to many foods, but also to many cosmetic products, particularly skin creams marketed as “anti-aging.” It is too early to tell if these products are effective, though some users feel they are quite

Nutritional deficits can cause many neurodevelopmental disorders including spina bifida, anencephaly etc. Both of these disorders are the effect of malnutrition. The cause which is common is the deficiency (maternal) of folic acid, is a vitamin B usually found actively in vegetables, fruits, and dairy products. Another deficiency is iodine deficiency which produces numerous neurodevelopmental disorders from lesser emotional disturbances to harsh mental

A question that is commonly asked when receiving a virus is, what is the fastest way to get rid of it? No human enjoys the presence of a common cold, despite more extreme terms such as the flu. Rest and fluids are typically the first reaction to curing a common cold. Then, medicine that is categorized toward the symptoms is received. Although, how do you speed up the process? Many think that the intake of large doses of vitamin c can speed up or potentially get rid of the cold all together.

Severely malnourished children are often deficient in Vitamin A, Zinc, iron,folic acid, copper and selenium. Deficiency in Zinc and vitamin A impair function of the immune system and have direct effects on the structure and function of mucosa. Copper deficiency is characterized by neutropenia, bone abdomalities and microcytic anaemia that fails to respond to iron.

Thank you for sharing that information. As we go through these winter months, it is helpful to be informed about the misconception of Vitamin C. I was one of those believers that Vitamin C is a preventative method for riding the common cold. Social media also plays a part in this misconception. I recall seeing several commercials and advertisement where vitamin C tablets or cough drops aided in treating the common cold. It is very important to research misconceptions such as this one before becoming a believer.

When a child is malnourished and has symptoms of failure to thrive, they should have some of

Scurvy is a vitamin C deficiency disease in the body. Vitamin C helps the body to produce collagen. “A protein found in many different types of body tissue, including the skin and bones”, (NHS. 2015). If the body does not produce collagen the tissues will degenerate

Rickets is a disorder caused by a lack of vitamin D, calcium, or phosphate. It primarily

There are currently no special dietary recommendations for SCD patients, even with data suggesting that the life of the disease is to increase the food requirement, much like in pregnancy or growth. (Hibbert, Gee, & Hyacinth, 2010) SCD patients should have a diet that is high in calories and that is full of nutrients. They must also have adequate fluid consumption to decrease the risk of dehydration. Dehydration can bring on a sickle cell crisis (pain episode). Vitamin and mineral supplementation may also benefit a SCD patient. Blood levels of several vitamins and minerals including: vitamin A and carotenoids, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium, and zinc are often low in these patients.

Unexplained fatigue, brittle, dry hair, ridged or spoon shaped nails, mouth problems, diarrhea, irritability or lack or appetite can all indicate nutrient deficiencies

Chronic diseases are characterized as a condition lasting longer than three months and an acute illness is of a shorter duration. Malnutrition associated with chronic diseases can be due to the fact that many patients with chronic diseases are physically handicapped and unable to perform activities of daily living such as eating and driving themselves to the store. Chronic diseases that could physically cause malnutrition like this include rheumatoid arthritis or neuromuscular diseases such as stroke. Another way that malnutrition associated with chronic disease can happen is through inflammation of the organs that can occur during organ failure or pancreatic cancer and cause certain nutrients to not be absorbed at all. Malnutrition associated with acute illness and inflammation can be caused by traumatic injuries such as severe burns and major infections of the body. The inflammatory response is a defense mechanism triggered by invading bacteria or severe injury. People who have been victims of these types of injuries can sustain pretty severe damage to their metabolism caused by the inflammatory response and can interfere with the nutrition therapy the RD is attempting to provide this can lead to unwanted weight loss and malnutrition.

Yes, Vitamin D deficiency has indeed become a major cause of concern in Ireland as it has recently been highlighted that most Irish people are deficient in this essential vitamin. According to the Irish Osteoporosis society 74% of Irish adults and 88% of Irish primary school children, have less than half of the recommended daily amount of vitamin D. As well as bone health problems deficiency has recently shown cause cancers, diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This can be defined as a major problem as it is affecting on average over 80% of the population.1 In conjunction with this, this deficiency is also a major problem due to the environmental factors surrounding the Irish climate: The main source of vitamin D in the diet is the biosynthesis of Calciferol by ultraviolet B rays from the sun. Ireland lies 50-55˚ north of the equator, which means from October until March the UVB rays are too weak to synthesise vitamin D.2 Therefore Irish people have to depend on their diet as a source of Vitamin D. There are a very few dietary sources of vitamin D, the main sources including fish and eggs. The two precursors of Vitamin D are Ergosterol from plants and 7-dehydrocholesterol which is found in the skin. When UV radiation acts on these they are converted to ergocalciferol and cholecalciferol respectively. The body is then able utilise these in the liver and kidneys where they are converted to 1,25-dehydroxyvitamin D2 and 1,25-dehydroxyvitamin D3. Calciferol plays a major