Scurvy is a disease long associated with sailing ships and sailors, with Captain James Cook and the discovery that fresh fruit provided a cure-all.
There is no way it should be re-emerging in the Western world.
Yet, this week there are reports the 18th-century ailment caused by vitamin C deficiency appeared to have made a comeback in Australia, and it would be no surprise if there are undetected cases in New Zealand. A scurvy case was recorded in New Zealand in 2013 but none since. In Britain, however, in the year to April 2014, scurvy was the primary diagnosis for 16 hospital admissions and the primary or secondary cause for 94. Diagnosed scurvy rates have been rising steadily, perhaps in part because of growing recognition of its presence.
Those most likely to be at risk traditionally are those with little money or those addicted to drugs or alcohol. Calories often come cheaper through junk food, and some people still do not understand the importance of fruit and vegetables.
But in a recent western Sydney case a woman with scurvy, while eating little fruit, did actually eat vegetables. The issue was she boiled these until they broke up, in effect leaching the vitamins and other nutrients from them. She had presented with traditional scurvy signs; a long-running ulcer, loose teeth, bleeding gums and sore muscles. Tiredness and joint pain are two other symptoms.
Her doctor, Prof Jenny Gunton, actually found several patients at her diabetes clinic were seriously lacking vitamin C, and has published a scientific paper which showed seven of 11 screened patients were seriously deficient.
She said diabetes patients sometimes avoided fruit because of fears of a glucose spike.The elderly, men living alone, children who are extremely fussy eaters, people with mental health and food issues and those who might find vitamin C difficult to absorb can be at risk. Those on low-carbohydrate diets can also be vulnerable because they could well be cutting out fruit.
Who knows how widespread vitamin C deficiency might be? At least, if diagnosed, it is easy to treat with vitamin C tablets or fruit and vegetables. And for those undiagnosed, a hospital stay could lead to steady improvement because hospital food should, hopefully, contain good doses of the vitamin.
The dietary message about plenty of fruit and green vegetables is long-standing and consistent. And they can be not just fresh but cooked (but not overcooked), canned, dried or frozen. Yet again, a good varied diet — and not some fad — is most likely to be healthy.
Scurvy is a sign of serious vitamin C deficiency. In the 1700s it reportedly killed more sailors than died in battle. But these days it is easy to combat and it should not be re-emerging.
The 'Modfather'
As has already been pointed out this week, recent generations do not realise what a popular and important figure Ray Columbus is in New Zealand entertainment history. He might not be so well known among younger New Zealanders, but he was the first Kiwi singer to top an overseas chart with a single (She’s A Mod with his band the Invaders in 1964, in Australia).
The trailblazing Columbus, who died this week aged 74, went on to invade this country’s living rooms with television shows through the 1960s and into the early 1980s. He was also a capable songwriter and became involved in most aspects of the entertainment business, including as a manager for musical artists.
He was also, for a time, the front-person for Fade, the Foundation for Drug and Alcohol Education, preaching his anti-drug message to youngsters. He was helpful, cheerful, lively, talented and popular, not just with his fans but within the enertainment industry.
