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Vitamin C Deficiency and Scurvy

The document discusses vertebrates, which have backbones and are classified into five classes, and invertebrates, which lack backbones and are categorized based on morphological traits such as the presence of legs. It also covers the importance of a balanced diet consisting of various food groups and details two vitamin deficiency diseases: scurvy, caused by a lack of vitamin C, and rickets, resulting from a deficiency in vitamin D. Symptoms and treatments for both conditions are outlined, emphasizing the need for adequate nutrition.

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Boney Stephen
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44 views5 pages

Vitamin C Deficiency and Scurvy

The document discusses vertebrates, which have backbones and are classified into five classes, and invertebrates, which lack backbones and are categorized based on morphological traits such as the presence of legs. It also covers the importance of a balanced diet consisting of various food groups and details two vitamin deficiency diseases: scurvy, caused by a lack of vitamin C, and rickets, resulting from a deficiency in vitamin D. Symptoms and treatments for both conditions are outlined, emphasizing the need for adequate nutrition.

Uploaded by

Boney Stephen
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Vertebrates

 All vertebrates have a backbone

o There are 5 classes of vertebrates

Vertebrate Table

Invertebrates
 Invertebrates do not possess a backbone

 One of the morphological characteristics used to classify invertebrates


is whether they have legs or not

 All invertebrates with jointed legs are part of the arthropod phylum

 They are classified further into the following groups:

Arthropod groups table

Balanced Diet
 A balanced diet consists of all of the food groups in the correct proportions
 The necessary food groups are:
o Carbohydrates
o Proteins
o Lipids
o Vitamins
o Minerals
o Dietary Fibre
o Water
Food Groups Table

Vitamin and Mineral Requirements Table


Varying Dietary Needs of Individuals Table

Scurvy & Rickets


Scurvy

 Scurvy is the name for a severe vitamin C deficiency

o It is caused by a lack of vitamin C in the diet for over 3 months

 Its symptoms include:

o Anemia

o Exhaustion

o Spontaneous bleeding

o Pain in the limbs

o Swelling

o Gum ulcerations

o Tooth loss

 It is a condition that was commonly seen in sailors between the 15th to 18th
centuries

o Long sea voyages made it very hard to access a ready supply of fresh
produce

 Scurvy can be treated with oral or intravenous vitamin C supplements

Rickets

 Rickets is a condition in children characterised by poor bone development

 Symptoms include:

o Bone pain

o Lack of bone growth

o Soft, weak bones (sometimes causing deformities)

 Rickets is caused by a severe lack of vitamin D

o Vitamin D is required for the absorption of calcium into the body

 Calcium is a key component of bones and teeth

 Vitamin D mostly comes from exposure to sunlight but it can also be found in
some foods (fish, eggs and butter)

 The treatment for rickets is to increase consumption of foods containing


calcium and vitamin D

o Alternatively vitamin D supplements can be prescribed

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