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A Scottish surgeon called James Lind proved that scurvy could be treated by feeding patients citrus [[fruit]] in 1753.<ref>[http://www.jameslindlibrary.org/trial_records/17th_18th_Century/lind/lind_tp.html ''A treatise of the scurvy''] @ jameslindlibrary.org</ref>

A Scottish surgeon called James Lind proved that scurvy could be treated by feeding patients citrus [[fruit]] in 1753.<ref>[http://www.jameslindlibrary.org/trial_records/17th_18th_Century/lind/lind_tp.html ''A treatise of the scurvy''] @ jameslindlibrary.org</ref>

[[James Cook]] is often credited as being the first sea captain to eliminate scurvy in his sailors, principally by using sauerkraut (pickled cabbage), although the some people believe his success in doing this has been overstated not least because the vitamin C content of sauerkraut is minimal. <ref>Lamb, Jonathan (8-1-2002) [http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/captaincook_scurvy_05.shtml ''Captain Cook and the Scourge of Scurvy''] BBC (page 5)</ref>

[[James Cook]] is often credited as being the first sea captain to eliminate scurvy in his sailors, principally by using sauerkraut (pickled cabbage), although some people believe his success in doing this has been overstated not least because the vitamin C content of sauerkraut is minimal. <ref>Lamb, Jonathan (8-1-2002) [http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/empire_seapower/captaincook_scurvy_05.shtml ''Captain Cook and the Scourge of Scurvy''] BBC (page 5)</ref>

Lack of vitamin C causes scurvy because ascorbic acid provides a hydroxyl group for the hydroxylation of proline residues to from hydroxyproline in the protein collagen. These hydroxyproline residues form hydrogen bonds between chains of collagen, holding them together. Thus in the absence of vitamin C, the collagen chains fall apart, which leads to the weakened connective tissue which causes the scurvy symptoms.

Lack of vitamin C causes scurvy because ascorbic acid provides a hydroxyl group for the hydroxylation of proline residues to from hydroxyproline in the protein collagen. These hydroxyproline residues form hydrogen bonds between chains of collagen, holding them together. Thus in the absence of vitamin C, the collagen chains fall apart, which leads to the weakened connective tissue which causes the scurvy symptoms.