Gerontologia e pesquisa geriátrica

Abstrato

Forgotten Nutritional Disorder in an Elderly Woman

Ghumman A, Thwin N and Kodali VRR

Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) is an essential vitamin playing a role in oxidation reduction reactions and in the conversion of tryptophan to serotonin. It is essential for collagen formation, norepinephrine synthesis and teeth and bone formation. Vitamin C deficiency manifests as Scurvy which is a fatal disease. In the current era, atypical manifestations are more common than classic descriptors especially in the elderly. We describe a case of an elderly woman with cutaneous haemorrhages, melena and abnormal blood picture with low vitamin C levels all of which improved with vitamin C supplementation.