Disrupted tooth formation and loosening of teeth may result in permanent defects of dentition. Bleeding into joints causes exquisitely painful hemarthroses. Subperiosteal hemorrhage may be palpable especially along the distal femurs and proximal tibias of infants. In advanced cases, clinically detectable beading may be present at the costochondral junctions of the ribs. This is the scorbutic rosary.
Anemia is often normochromic and normocytic.
Vitamin C enhances iron absorption by reducing dietary iron from the ferric to the ferrous form. Thus, vitamin C deficiency may reduce the availability of intracellular iron. Vitamin C is also necessary to convert folic acid to its active metabolite, folinic acid. Other problems include increased redness and swelling in recently healed wounds and failure to heal in new wounds. The total body pool of vitamin C is approximately 1500 mg.