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British pop icon Robbie Williams has revealed he was diagnosed with scurvy last year after taking weight-loss medication and shedding nearly 13 kilograms (29 pounds). In a personal interview, Williams said the drastic weight loss was accompanied by serious health consequences, including a bout of depression, the first in over a decade.
“I stopped eating and wasn’t getting nutrients,” he said. The diagnosis prompted him to overhaul his eating habits.
Scurvy, a disease associated with 17th-century pirates and long thought to be obsolete in the developed world, is caused by a severe deficiency of vitamin C. Williams' unusual case has reignited concerns about the dangers of extreme dieting and body image issues in a time of food abundance.
Dr. Inbal Kadman, a family medicine specialist with Maccabi Healthcare Services, said she was first introduced to the disease in medical school through stories of sailors. “They didn’t have access to fresh fruits and vegetables at sea, which led to the discovery of the disease,” she explained.
Still, in the 21st century, with better access to fresh produce than ever, cases of nutritional deficiencies are surfacing again. “We tend to think scurvy is a thing of the past, but it’s making a painful return to the Western world,” Kadman said. “It’s not supposed to happen, but it does.”
Why is scurvy making a comeback?
While rare, scurvy can develop if the body’s vitamin C reserves are depleted. Kadman noted it’s more common in immunocompromised individuals who avoid raw fruits and vegetables due to a higher risk of infection. However, she warned that fad diets — especially those that discourage fruit consumption, like some ketogenic plans — are a growing concern.
“I’m not against keto diets, but it’s essential to follow them in a balanced way and under medical supervision,” she said.
Symptoms and diagnosis
Scurvy symptoms can be misleading. Vitamin C plays a crucial role in producing collagen, a key component in connective tissue, skin and gums. A deficiency can lead to bleeding, swollen gums, tooth loss and joint pain. Advanced stages can bring on mood changes and personality shifts — symptoms that Williams also described.
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“People with scurvy may experience extreme fatigue, bleeding gums, joint pain and even depression,” Kadman explained.
Diagnosis is relatively simple, typically involving a blood test to confirm vitamin C deficiency. “It’s not a routine test, but it can be done after a doctor evaluates the patient’s diet and symptoms,” Kadman explained. “If there are classic signs, like gum bleeding, the diagnosis becomes fairly straightforward.”
Treatment and prevention
Treatment involves replenishing vitamin C, primarily through dietary sources rather than supplements.
“The daily recommended intake is around 100 mg,” said Kadman. “A clementine has about 50 mg, lemon juice about 55 and a kiwi about 90. Red bell peppers top the list with 190 mg per pepper.”
Contrary to popular belief, vitamin C isn’t limited to citrus fruits. “You’ll find it in bananas, apples and cauliflower too,” she added. “The key is to eat them raw — cooking destroys the vitamin.”
Kadman shared a quirky example: a Hungarian restaurant styled like a pirate ship serves a green vegetable salad called ‘Anti-Scurvy’ on the menu.
While preventing deficiency is crucial, overconsumption of vitamin C, especially through supplements, can be harmful. Kadman cautioned against taking supplements without medical guidance, noting potential interactions with medications like aspirin and the possibility of kidney buildup.
“Even grapefruit juice, while rich in vitamin C, can interfere with how the liver processes certain drugs,” she said.
Kadman called to consult a doctor before adopting any restrictive diet. “If you’re cutting out a major food group — especially fruits and vegetables — monitor for deficiencies and stay in touch with your physician.”