Which vitamin deficiency causes the disease known as scurvy, characterized by bleeding gums and delayed wound healing?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Scurvy is caused by a nutritional deficiency of Vitamin C, chemically known as ascorbic acid, which is vital for synthesizing connective tissue collagen. Deficiencies in vitamins like A or D lead to entirely different disorders such as night blindness and rickets respectively. Since the human body cannot synthesize Vitamin C endogenously, dietary intake of citrus fruits is necessary.