The octopus returns unexpectedly | Technology News

The nutritional disease that was synonymous with ancient sailors raises its ugly head in modern times. Researchers in the United States and elsewhere warn that cases of scurvy may be on the rise, especially among vulnerable populations such as children with sensory issues, the elderly, and others struggling to afford food or purchase healthy fruits and vegetables.

Scurvy is a disease caused by a severe and chronic deficiency in vitamin C. Our bodies need vitamin C for many different functions, such as supporting our immune system and repairing damaged tissues, so those with scurvy typically experience symptoms such as skin lesions, tooth loss, internal bleeding, and ultimately death if left untreated. Although the Scottish physician James Lind proved in the mid-18th century that citrus fruits high in vitamin C could treat and prevent scurvy, it wasn’t until the 20th century that the connection was widely accepted and proven. Thanks to this knowledge, scurvy is rarely seen in most parts of the world. However, recent research and case reports indicate that it has become an important issue once again.

For example, in July of this year, a study analyzing pediatric admissions to children’s hospitals across the United States found that the reported rate of scurvy cases among children had more than tripled between 2016 and 2020. In early October, doctors in Canada reported a specific case of scurvy involving a 65-year-old woman, cautioning that the case “should not be dismissed as an ancient diagnosis of sailors in the 18th century.” And just today, a separate team of researchers in Australia documented their case of scurvy in a middle-aged man after undergoing weight loss surgery.

“The occurrence of scurvy,” said Grant Hoag, lead author of the July study and pediatric spine surgeon at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, to Gizmodo via email, “is increasing among children in the United States.”

To be clear, scurvy will remain a rare condition in the foreseeable future. A study conducted in 2021 found that up to 41% of American adults have inadequate levels of vitamin C, with around 6% meeting deficiency criteria. While many of us may have lower levels of vitamin C than we should, the appearance of any symptoms takes two to three months of continuous deficiency. Even in Hoag’s research, they identified only 265 cases during the study period (out of nearly 20 million patients overall). Compared to sailors in the past, it is much easier for the average person to get vitamin C in their diet without much thought. However, doctors like Ebubeker Dagliyar, who contributed to a review on scurvy in 2023, argue that scurvy cases are currently overlooked by doctors, and that we can do more effort to help those unlucky enough to develop it.

“It won’t be a huge thing. It still takes a very limited amount of vitamin C for someone to develop scurvy. But I think it is definitely underdiagnosed. I test for it more and more as I train my peers and they test more as well,” said Dagliyar, a gastroenterologist at West Virginia University, to Gizmodo. “You will be surprised how we do not diagnose these patients.”

Dagliyar says there are some groups more susceptible to scurvy, such as alcohol users, obese individuals, the elderly, and those living in poverty. The authors of the Canadian case report argued that food insecurity, in particular, could be a major risk factor for developing scurvy. Their patient was experiencing mobility issues and living on a low income, limiting her access to fresh produce. The Australian researchers pointed out that weight loss surgery their patient underwent may have made him prone to scurvy, as these surgeries tend to affect the body’s ability to absorb certain nutrients, along with the high cost of living and healthy foods. Their patient reported having little money, often skipping meals and stopping the use of post-surgery supplements prescribed for patients. Hoag notes that about two-thirds of the children in their study were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the same time. Many people with autism spectrum disorder have sensory issues that make them picky eaters, leading to extremely selective diets and an increased risk of malnutrition.

Although scurvy may be debilitating, it is more treatable today than it was in James Lind’s time. Dagliyar has seen blood clotting issues and other symptoms quickly fade away after patients start receiving high doses of vitamin C. Additionally, the necessary blood test to confirm someone has low vitamin C levels is not costly, according to Hoag. The biggest challenge for doctors is knowing when these tests and treatments are necessary for their patients. Dagliyar says doctors need to remember that scurvy is still around and be ready to look for it, especially in high-risk individuals.

“I think just increasing awareness of it could help. I often tell my peers that if they have suspicions, especially in these vulnerable patients – if they see anything like bleeding – they should do a vitamin C test. And often, it will come back very low or undetectable. Looking back, you can see that there were other signs there. Maybe they were experiencing skin lesions or dental problems, all of this suddenly makes sense,” he said. He adds that people can also proactively reach out to their doctors to get tested, especially if they know they haven’t been getting enough fruits and vegetables in their diet.

Scurvy may not be the danger it once was in the days of seafaring, but it is certainly something that doctors and some individuals should be aware of.