Scurvy believed to be more effective because they were more acidic. It was the acid, not the (then-unknown) Vitamin C that was believed to cure scurvy. In fact, the West Indian limes were significantly lower in Vitamin C than the previous lemons and further were not served fresh but rather as lime juice, which had been exposed to light and air, and piped through copper tubing, all of which significantly reduced the Vitamin C. Indeed, a 1918 animal experiment using representative samples of the Navy and Merchant Marine's lime juice showed that it had virtually no antiscorbutic power at all. The
Vitamin B12 deficiency Vitamin B12 deficiency Vitamin B deficiency, also known as cobalamin deficiency, is the medical condition of low blood levels of vitamin B. In mild deficiency a person may feel tired and have a reduced number of red blood cells (anemia). In moderate deficiency there may be inflammation of the tongue and the beginning of neurological problems including abnormal sensations such as "pins and needles", while severe deficiency may include reduced heart function and greater neurological problems. Neurological problems may include changes in reflexes, poor muscle function, memory problems, decreased taste, and in extreme cases psychosis. Sometimes temporary infertility may also