Latent scurvy with tiredness and leg pain in alcoholics: An underestimated disease three case reports
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RATIONALE: Scurvy is often diagnosed at the state of well-established signs as, for example, skin and visceral purpura, gums involvement, loss of healthy teeth, which derive mostly from disturbance of collagen metabolism. Little is known about the state of latent scurvy, which symptoms are nonspecific and may mimic more common conditions such as weakness, leg pain, and muscle aching. PATIENT CONCERNS: We report 3 cases of extreme lassitude and leg pain in alcoholics. In 2 of the 3 cases, discreet classic symptoms such as petechiae or hyperkeratosis of the legs involving collagen metabolism were also present. DIAGNOSES: Latent scurvy has been diagnosed thanks to historical experimental data reporting and undetectable ascorbic acid levels. INTERVENTIONS: In addition to the treatments recommended by the French Alcohol Society, patients were given oral vitamin C 500 mg to 1000 mg per day for at least three months. OUTCOMES: Vitamin C supplementation allowed the regression of the symptoms, greatly improved the quality of life, and gave the possibility to return to work. Cartinine, requiring vitamin C for its hydroxylation, is an essential cofactor in the transport of long-chain fatty acid into mitochondrial matrix. Therefore, it plays an important role in energy production via beta-oxidation. It is thought that carnitine metabolism impairment is responsible for weakness or muscle aching. LESSONS: We recommend being aware of the possibility of latent scurvy in chronic alcohol abusers. The vitamin C supplementation and dietetic recommendation eating fresh fruit and vegetables may help to cure tiredness and to return more easily to socialization and to work.
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In a report of three cases, alcoholic men with latent scurvy associated with extreme lassitude who received high doses of vitamin C (500 to 1000 mg/day for 3 months) had regression of symptoms, greatly improved quality of life, and possibility of return to work.
“a recent report of three cases indicated that, in alcoholic men with latent scurvy associated with extreme lassitude, supplementation with high doses of vitamin C (500 to 1000 mg/day for 3 months) allowed the regression of the symptoms, greatly improved the quality of life, and gave the possibility of a return to work [204].”
From Vitamins and Minerals for Energy, Fatigue and Cognition: A Narrative Review of the Biochemical and Clinical Evidence (2020) · cites this paper as [204]
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- Authors
- Lux-Battistelli, C., & Battistelli, D.
- Corresponding author
- Lux-Battistelli, Christine
- Venue
- Medicine
- Published
- 2017-11
- Volume
- 96
- Issue
- 47
- Pages
- e8861
- ISSN
- 0025-7974 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC5709001
- OpenAlex
- W2770582163
- Cited by
- 13
- References
- 16
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2
- FWCI
- 2.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by-sa
- Locations
- Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Vitamin C and Antioxidants Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Alcoholism and Thiamine Deficiency
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Biochemistry › Antioxidant Activity and Oxidative Stress
- Keywords
- alcoholism, chronic alcohol abuse, leg pain, fatigue, vitamin C supplementation, scurvy, carnitine metabolism, collagen metabolism, hyperkeratosis, petechiae, return to work
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Alcoholism, Ascorbic Acid, Fatigue, Humans, Leg, Male, Middle Aged, Scurvy, Vitamins, Dietary Supplements, Myalgia
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