Scurvy due to vitamin C deficiency impairs which body functions?

• A. Bone formation and mineral storage
• B. Collagen synthesis and wound healing
• C. Myelin sheath formation and nerve conduction
• D. Hemoglobin synthesis and oxygen transport

Answer: (B)

Vitamin C is required as a cofactor for the enzymes that add hydroxyl groups to proline and lysine during collagen synthesis. This hydroxylation enables collagen to form a stable triple helix, which is essential for the strength of connective tissues such as skin, blood vessels, gums, and bone matrix. When vitamin C is deficient, collagen production and maturation falter, leading to fragile vessels, poor wound healing, and other connective-tissue problems characteristic of scurvy. So the condition mainly compromises collagen synthesis and the body’s ability to repair tissue. Other options point to processes not primarily affected by vitamin C deficiency, such as nerve myelination or hemoglobin synthesis, which explains why they’re not the best fit.