Overview
- Health guidance explains vitamin C drives collagen production and capillary strength, and low levels can make vessels fragile and prone to bruising.
- Classic deficiency signs include bleeding gums, corkscrew hairs, and perifollicular hemorrhages, with frequent infections, fatigue, and dull skin also reported.
- Symptoms of scurvy can emerge within about four weeks on a vitamin C–free diet, according to a study cited in recent consumer reporting.
- Adults are advised to aim for roughly 75–90 mg daily; bell peppers, kiwi, strawberries, broccoli, parsley, and citrus are rich sources, and supplements should stay under 2,000 mg a day.
- Experts note vitamin C is reduced by high-heat cooking and leaches into boiling water, fresh produce generally retains more than cooked, frozen, or canned options, and bruising can also stem from other deficiencies or medications so medical evaluation is advised.