A Syndrome of Osteoporosis in Africans and Its Relationship to Scurvy

Abstract

The clinical, radiologic and laboratory features of 16 cases of osteoporosis in Africans are described and postmortem findings in two cases are included. Nine patients were suffering from classic acute scurvy on admission and one from a possible scorbutic equivalent. A theory is propounded that chronic vitamin C deficiency may be responsible for osteoporosis in this community. Among these patients there was a high incidence of hemosiderosis, portal fibrosis, disturbed liver function tests, and abnormal serum proteins. Reasons are given why these factors are not considered to be causally related to the osteoporosis.