Analysis of nutritional disease in prehistory: The search for scurvy in antiquity and today.

摘要: Abstract In this paper, we discuss the issues surrounding study of scurvy, or vitamin C deficiency, in paleopathology, and highlight work Donald Ortner advancing area research. This micronutrient deficiency impacts collagen formation results damage to a variety bodily tissues. While clinical manifestations are observed routinely, lack specific signatures on bone makes paleopathological diagnosis difficult. Rapid growth infants, children, subadults provides abundant remodeled tissue an increase vascularization that identification possible younger segments population. However, scurvy adults remains problematic, given diagnostic lesions strikingly similar those associated with rickets, osteomalacia, other conditions. We argue confounding factor underscores need for broader anthropological approach research expands beyond differential include more accurate reconstruction diets available resources, greater consideration possibility – even likelihood multiple nutrient deficiencies simultaneously affecting individual, patterning these along lines status, sex, age.