Vitamin C Deficiency in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: The Forgotten Micronutrient

A retrospective chart review of 20 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated at a single tertiary care center from February 2018 to October 2019 revealed that vitamin C deficiency, defined as a level ≤0.2 mg/dl, is present in this population. The study included 11 female and 9 male patients with a median age of 27.5 years, of whom 75% had Crohn's disease and 25% had Ulcerative colitis. Half of the patients were diagnosed with IBD within the last 3 years, and the other half had the disease for more than 5 years. Symptoms consistent with clinical scurvy were observed in 80% of the patients, including hair loss in 30%. Additionally, 56% of the patients who underwent nutritional evaluation reported avoiding all fruits and vegetables. The study highlights the occurrence of vitamin C deficiency in IBD patients, which is associated with scurvy symptoms, and underscores the importance of dietary counseling for these patients. Prospective studies are needed to assess the prevalence and impact of vitamin C deficiency on clinical outcomes in IBD.