Abstract
A case of scurvy presenting in a patient with Crohn's disease is reported. A normal response to replacement therapy is seen. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) deficiency was found in 7 out of 10 patients with clinically quiescent Crohn's disease, 4 of whom had an adequate oral intake of vitamin C. There was no significant difference in oral intake between patients with Crohn's disease and matched controls but there was a significant difference (P less than 0.001) in leucocyte ascorbic acid levels. It is recommended that patients with Crohn's disease be screened for vitamin C deficiency and receive prophylactic vitamin C supplements daily.
Full text
PDFSelected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- DENSON K. W., BOWERS E. F. The determination of ascorbic acid in white blood cells. A comparison of W.B.C. ascorbic acid and phenolic acid excretion in elderly patients. Clin Sci. 1961 Oct;21:157–162. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gerson C. D., Fabry E. M. Ascorbic acid deficiency and fistula formation in regional enteritis. Gastroenterology. 1974 Sep;67(3):428–433. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Gibson S. L., Moore F. M., Goldberg A. Measurement of leucocyte ascorbic acid. Br Med J. 1966 May 7;1(5496):1152–1153. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.5496.1152. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Hughes R. G., Williams N. Leucocyte ascorbic acid in Crohn's disease. Digestion. 1978;17(3):272–274. doi: 10.1159/000198118. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Mellors A. J., Nahrwold D. L., Rose R. C. Ascorbic acid flux across mucosal border of guinea pig and human ileum. Am J Physiol. 1977 Nov;233(5):E374–E379. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.1977.233.5.E374. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nicholson J. T., Chornock F. W. INTUBATION STUDIES OF THE HUMAN SMALL INTESTINE. XXII. AN IMPROVED TECHNIC FOR THE STUDY OF ABSORPTION; ITS APPLICATION TO ASCORBIC ACID. J Clin Invest. 1942 Jul;21(4):505–509. doi: 10.1172/JCI101327. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- STEWART J. S., BOOTH C. C. ASCORBIC ACID ABSORPTION IN MALABSORPTION. Clin Sci. 1964 Aug;27:15–22. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Stevenson N. R. Active transport of L-ascorbic acid in the human ileum. Gastroenterology. 1974 Nov;67(5):952–956. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Williamson J. M., Goldberg A., Moore F. M. Leucocyte ascorbic acid levels in patients with malabsorption or previous gastric surgery. Br Med J. 1967 Apr 1;2(5543):23–25. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5543.23. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]