Scurvy Odontoblasts

The typical injury of scurvy consists of an incapacity of the mesenchymal cells—such as fibroblasts, osteoblasts, or odontoblasts—to produce their normal fundamental substance. In other words, the cell can proliferate, but it cannot form collagen, osteoid, or dentin. This basic alteration is responsible for increased fragility of the capillaries, retarded wound healing, abnormal bone growth, and eventually abnormal tooth growth [78]. 

Reasonable and clear definitions of terms such as gross deficiencies, minimal, adequate, optimal, and even average are essential for the proper description and intelligent use of tables of requirements. Even the clinical criteria for such definitions are unsatisfactory (Thomson and Duncan, 1954). It is possible with some nutrients, such as ascorbic acid, to draw some distinction between amounts that will cure scurvy and amounts (minimal ) that will permit normal odontoblast development. A further definition of a much higher level of intake (optimal ) that will saturate body tissues can also be offered. Under conditions of stress, such as fever, the body tissues rapidly lose ascorbic acid, and a still higher intake can be defined that is needed to rebuild some specified amount of ascorbic acid in the plasma, for example. 

---