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Why were sailors on long sea voyages especially vulnerable to scurvy?

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rickets, a nutritional disease — nutritional disease Children with rickets. The disease, which most commonly strikes children, causes bone deformities such as bowlegs. Rickets is caused by a lack of vitamin D or calcium.

Sailors on long sea voyages were particularly vulnerable to scurvy because their diets lacked fresh fruits and vegetables, which are the primary sources of vitamin C.1

Vitamin C is essential for the synthesis of collagen, a critical component of normal body tissues. When this nutrient is absent from the diet for several months, the body’s stored reserves are depleted, leading to the clinical manifestations of the nutritional disorder, such as joint pain, bleeding gums, and poor wound healing.1

By the end of the 15th century, scurvy had become a leading cause of disability and death among maritime crews. The condition was eventually managed through dietary interventions; for instance, James Lind demonstrated that citrus juice could cure the disease, and captains like James Cook later implemented strict dietary protocols—including the provision of sauerkraut and cress—to maintain the health of their sailors.12