Abstract: The human body requires an adequate supply of ascorbic acid (L-xyloascorbic acid or vitamin C) to enable it to function normally, and a lack of the vitamin results in the emergence of the condition known as scurvy (scorbutus or avitaminosis C). Unlike plants, and the majority of animals thus far studied, humans are unable to produce ascorbic acid endogenously and, thus, are dependent upon dietary sources – mainly fruit and vegetables – for a supply of the vitamin. In the absence of vitamin C, formation of collagen, an essential glycoprotein component of connective tissue, is impaired, which is believed to be the main underlying biochemical lesion in scurvy (Counsell and Hornig 1981; Englard and Seifter 1986).
Publication Year: 2000
Publication Date: 2000-12-07
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 4
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