Which statement correctly describes vitamin C deficiency in relation to scurvy?

• A. It is the cause of scurvy in guinea pigs.
• B. It is a problem in laboratory rats and mice.
• C. It causes hemorrhages in the liver and spleen.
• D. It causes blindness in neonates.

Answer: (A)

Vitamin C deficiency causes scurvy because vitamin C is essential for collagen synthesis; without it, tissues rich in collagen, like blood vessels and gums, become fragile and bleed, heal poorly, and the bones can be affected. Guinea pigs cannot synthesize vitamin C and must obtain it from their diet, so a deficiency directly leads to scurvy in them, just as it does in humans. In contrast, laboratory rats and mice can produce their own vitamin C, so dietary deficiency is not a typical problem for them. Classic signs of scurvy include easy bruising, swollen gums, poor wound healing, and bone changes, rather than hemorrhages specifically in the liver and spleen or blindness in neonates. Thus, the statement linking vitamin C deficiency to scurvy in guinea pigs is the correct description.