Advice For Getting Off Thyroid Hormone

II. Vitamin C Deficiency and Scurvy

Almost every species of animal is capable of converting glucose into ascorbic acid.[86] Humans and guinea pigs, however, lack a critical enzyme for this conversion and are unable to produce ascorbic acid independently.[87] Therefore, humans must consume the entirety of their vitamin C needs in the diet.[88] Once vitamin C levels become low enough, symptoms of scurvy begin to occur.[89]

1. The Progression of Scurvy

The onset of scurvy is a slow progression, usually appearing after 60-90 days of a vitamin C deficient diet.[90] The onset of scurvy has been noted to proceed in four stages.[91] In the first stage, people begin to feel abnormally lazy and are prone to sudden fatigue.[92] The muscles ache, especially in the legs and lower abdomen.[93] Upon first waking, a scurvy victim’s joints will ache.[94]

During the second stage, patients’ gums begin to swell, bleed with slight pressure, itch, and become hot.[95] In addition, teeth become loose at the roots.[96] Patients also begin to feel actual pain throughout the joints and muscles.[97]

When a patient reaches the third stage of scurvy, the gums become putrid and begin to smell like rotting flesh.[98] The gums also begin to bleed profusely.[99] The flesh becomes gangrenous and the skin will spontaneously hemorrhage.[100] The skin, especially in the legs and feet, develop ulcers that turn gangrenous.[101] Finally, the third stage entails excruciating pain throughout muscles, joints, and bones.[102]

In the fourth and final stage of scurvy, the body develops high fevers.[103] The skin develops black spots, the body begins to tremble, sudden faintings occur, and finally death occurs. The acute cause of death is usually caused by hemorrhaging in the brain and heart and is usually brought on by exertion. [104] However, even in stage four, treatment by high levels of vitamin C will reverse the effects of scurvy and the patient will return to good health.[105]

2. Prevalence of Scurvy and Vitamin C Deficiency Today

Today, vitamin C deficiencies and scurvy are rare because of easy access to fresh fruits and vegetables, vitamin fortification of processed foods and drinks, and vitamin supplements.[106] However, cases of scurvy still sometimes appear.[107] Most cases in the United States occur in poor urban populations, alcoholics and the elderly.[108] Individuals who smoke or have illnesses such as cancer or renal failure are also prone to scurvy.[109] Today, elderly poor men develop vitamin C deficiencies more than any other group.[110] In fact, as many as 20% of poor, elderly men may have low amounts of vitamin C in their system, although actual scurvy rates are much lower.[111] Even in elderly, poor men, the rates of vitamin C deficiency are highest among those who are confined to their homes, chronically sick, or institutionalized.[112] Overall, scurvy is extremely rare in developed countries due to improved diets and vitamin supplementation.[113] However, cases still occur and medical personnel must be prepared to diagnose and treat this once deadly disease.

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Vitamin C absorption can be impaired by a number of factors. A single large dose saturates the enzyme kinetics for vitamin C, leading to excess AA in the intestinal lumen, which causes numerous gastrointestinal problems. Pectin and zinc also inhibit AA absorption, but this mechanism is not well understood. A high iron concentration in the gastrointestinal tract may cause oxidative destruction and in turn impair uptake (13).

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Charlie said:

K2 definitely does not work the way it should with me.

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johns74 said:

Have you tried Cynoplus, which doesn't have calcitonin?

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