Scurvy on a diet devoid or nearly devoid of vitamin C, had blood levels of vitamin C too low to be accurately measured when they developed signs of scurvy, and in the Iowa study, at this time were estimated (by labeled vitamin C dilution) to have a body pool of less than 300 mg, with daily turnover of only 2.5 mg/day. The vast majority of animals and plants are able to synthesize vitamin C, through a sequence of enzyme-driven steps, which convert monosaccharides to vitamin C. However, some mammals have lost the ability to synthesize vitamin C, notably simians and tarsiers.
Vitamin D and neurology vitamin D blood concentration standard for diagnosing hypovitaminosis D does not exist. In the past, hypovitaminosis D has been defined by blood concentrations lower than 20 ng/ mL. However, in more recent literature many researchers have considered 30 ng/ mL to be an insufficient concentration of vitamin D. Subnormal levels of vitamin D are usually caused by poor nutrition or a lack of sun exposure. Risk factors for hypovitaminosis D include premature birth, darker skin pigmentation, obesity, malabsorption, and older age. The brain requires the use of many neurosteroids to develop and function properly. These molecules are often identified as