Scurvy is a disease that likely conjures up images of sickly sailors from hundreds of years ago, but doctors in Canada are being warned to look out for the condition now, as a result of growing food insecurity.
A report published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) details the case study of a 65-year-old woman diagnosed with scurvy at a Toronto hospital last year.
The authors say the case points to the need for physicians to consider the possibility of scurvy, particularly among patients at higher risk for nutrient deficiencies, including people with low socioeconomic status and isolated older adults.
“This isn’t the first case of scurvy that I’ve seen in my career so far,” said Dr. Sally Engelhart, the study’s lead author and an internal medicine specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto.
If you or any other poor person is looking for an affordable and tasty source of C, it’s easy to ferment cabbage into sauerkraut with little more than some repurposed containers from recycling bins, optionally some plastic wrap, and some salt. Fresh sauerkraut tastes amazing and is loaded with vitamin C. Most other vegetables that you can get your hands on for cheap or free also work in a pinch.