Williams says he was struggling with his mental health in recent months for which he took an appetite suppressant to lose weight
Singer Robbie Williams said he was diagnosed with scurvy, a severe deficiency of vitamin C, earlier this year. The 51-year-old, in an interview, said he got to know of his condition after struggling with his mental health in recent mon for which he took an appetite suppressant to lose weight. “The year started with some ill mental health, which I haven’t had for a very, very long time,” he said, adding that he was feeling “sad, anxious, and depressed,” he told the Mirror in an interview.
Scurvy is caused by malnutrition when you do not eat enough fruits and vegetables. Left untreated, it can cause bleeding gums, loosened teeth, and bleeding under your skin.
Williams was diagnosed with depression in his 20s and since then has been battling it. “I thought I was at the other end of the arc,” he said. “So, for it to return was just confusing.”
Is diet a factor?
According to Williams, he suspected his diet could be a contributing factor in how he was feeling. “I’d stopped eating, and I wasn’t getting nutrients,” he said, adding that he was later diagnosed with scurvy, a Victorian-era disease. Even though the condition is common, it is said to be rare in the US because of the country’s nutrient-rich diet and is usually seen in countries where people are malnourished.
Williams said he has changed his diet and so, his health and depression have become manageable.
How does vitamin C work in your body?
Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is extremely important for your body. It helps in the development, growth, and healing of your skin, bones, and connective tissue. Doctors say you need vitamin C for your blood vessels to function properly, and it also helps maintain your teeth and gums. It helps your body absorb iron, which it needs to make red blood cells.
Being an antioxidant, vitamin C protects your cells against damage from free radicals - byproducts of normal cell activity that participate in chemical reactions within cells. Some of these reactions can cause damage over your lifetime.
Who does scurvy affect?
Scurvy usually affects babies, children, and older adults who do not get enough vitamin C in their diet. A few risk factors for developing the condition include:
- Not eating enough fresh fruits or vegetables
- Eating very little due to medical treatments that make you feel sick
- Smoking, which reduces the amount of vitamin C your body absorbs from food
- Having a drug or alcohol dependency
- Having a poor diet during your pregnancy
- Having a restrictive diet due to food allergies
- Having health conditions like diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease
Signs and symptoms of scurvy
Signs and symptoms of scurvy start developing as soon as your deficiency begins. Your symptoms include:
-
Anemia
- Swollen and bleeding gums that may become purple and spongy
- Loosened teeth that may fall out
- Bleeding under your skin
- Easily bruised skin
- Rough and scaly skin
- Swollen legs
- Opening of previously healed wounds and new wounds that do not heal
- Dry and brittle hair that coils like a corkscrew
- No appetite
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