title: Will an orange a day keep the doctor away?
abstract: An 80 year old man, who relied on a home based meals-on-wheels service was admitted to hospital with non-specific symptoms, but had clinical and biochemical evidence of scurvy. Subsequently, all new admissions (n=37) to the department over a three week period were assessed for evidence of undernutrition. It was found that 73% had hypovitaminosis C, with 30% having concentrations suggestive of scurvy. There were no significant associations between level of vitamin C and type of accommodation, food provision, or age. The commonest symptom associated with vitamin C deficiency was anorexia, but overall, there was a paucity of clinical signs associated with vitamin C deficiency. The possible associations of vitamin C deficiency in the elderly are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. tristan.richardson@rbch-tr.swest.nhs.uk
authors.forename: T I L
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000855:Anorexia / Q000209:etiology; D001206:Ascorbic Acid Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012614:Scurvy / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy