Vitamin C Deficiency – Nutritional Disorders
Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid.
- Deficiency of vitamin C leads to scurvy which is mainly characterized by hemorrhagic diathesis and delayed wound healing.
- Scurvy results in defective formation and maintenance of collagen, impairment and cessation of osteoid formation and impaired osteoblastic function.
vitamin C Deficiency Clinical Manifestations
- Hemorrhagic lesions in muscle of extremities, joints and sometime nail beds too
- Petechial hemorrhages around hair follicles
- Increased susceptibility to infection
- Impaired wound healing.
- Presence of bleeding and swollen gingiva with loose teeth.
Histopathological Features
- Defective formation and maintenance of collagen.
- Retardation or cessation of osteoid formation and impaired osteoblastic function.
- Increased capillary permeability.
- Susceptibility to traumatic hemorrhage.
- Hyporeactivity of contractile elements of the peripheral blood vessels.
- Sluggishness of blood flow.
Etiologic Relationships between Vitamin C and Periodontal Disease
- Low levels of ascorbic acid inflence the metabolism of collagen within the periodontium, thereby affecting the ability of the tissue to regenerate and repair by itself.
- It interferes with bone formation leading to the loss of the alveolar bone.
- Increases the permeability of oral mucosa to tritiated endotoxin and inulin.
- Increased levels of ascorbic acid enhances both the chemotactic and migratory action of leukocytes without influencing phagocytic activity.
- Depletion of vitamin C may interfere with the ecologic equilibrium of bacteria in plaque and increases its pathogenicity.
Periodontal Features of Scurvy
- The oral symptoms are that of chronic gingivitis which can involve the free gingiva, attached gingiva and alveolar mucosa.
- In severe cases, the gingiva becomes brilliant-red, tender and grossly swollen. The spongy tissues are extremely hyperemic and bleed spontaneously.
- In long-standing cases, the tissues attain a dark blue or purple hue.
- Alveolar bone resorption with increased tooth mobility has also been reported.
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