Scurvy fever, convulsions, and eventual death are frequently seen. Scurvy, including subclinical scurvy, is caused by a deficiency of dietary vitamin C since humans are unable to metabolically make this chemical. Provided diet contains sufficient vitamin C, the lack of working GULO enzyme has no significance, and in modern Western societies, scurvy is rarely present in adults, although infants and elderly people are affected. Virtually all commercially available baby formulas contain added vitamin C, preventing infantile scurvy. Human breast milk contains sufficient vitamin C, if the mother has an adequate intake. Commercial milk is pasteurized, a heating process that destroys the
Vitamin D deficiency in Australia deformities, hypocalcemia, tetany and seizures. During the late 19th century autopsies conducted in the Netherlands concluded that 80-90% of children were suffering from Rickets. The incidents of rickets observed within Sydney hospitals during the years of 2003 – 2004 have doubled. This major spike can be attributed to the growing population of migrants in Australia, many of whom are considered high risk of vitamin D deficiency. As shown in the image the skeletal deformities such as knock knees and bow legs in these young children as a result of rickets. Because of the high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency, conditions