Symptoms of scurvy as popular weight-loss drugs linked to the century-old 'sailor' disease

Here are the symptoms of scurvy, a disease previously associated with pirates and sailors, after weight loss drugs were found to be triggering a rise in cases.

Drugs to shed the pounds are more popular than ever, with one poll finding that one in eight adults have taken GLP-1s for weight loss purposes.

However, we are often told about the side effects regarding these drugs, including one recently regarding the small possibility of sudden blindness.

In more recent days though, the side effect of scurvy has been discussed, a disease you'd find was more prevalent during the ages of pirates and sailors - so we are talking centuries ago.

What is scurvy?

The disease is at its worse due to an individual not having enough vitamin C in their diet.

Mayo Clinic explains: "Not eating enough fruits and vegetables is the main cause of the disease. Left untreated, scurvy can lead to bleeding gums, loosened teeth and bleeding under your skin."

Bleeding gums is a symptom of scurvy (Getty Stock Photo)

What are the symptoms of scurvy?

According to the NHS, symptoms of scurvy include:

• Feeling very tired and weak all the time
• Feeling irritable and sad all the time
• Joint, muscle or leg pain
• Swollen and/or bleeding gums
• Developing red or blue spots on the skin, typically on the legs or feet
• Skin that bruises easily

Findings

Experts have expressed concerns regarding malnutrition in those taking GLP-1 weight loss drugs, with Clare Collins, of the Newcastle School of Health Sciences explaining her team's results.

Speaking to The Australian Financial Review, Collins said: "Only one [trial] had published what people ate. We wrote to all the authors, and got data from one more trial. This is being missed.

Side effects from weight-loss drugs are certainly a worry (Getty Stock Photo)

"It does not give you an opportunity on how it might impact their dietary intake. We know there are a lot of side effects. For such an expense it is a marked miss."

"A reduction in body weight does not automatically mean the person is well, nourished or healthy. Nutrition plays a critical role in health and right now it’s largely missing from the evidence."

Following the new finds, a spokesperson for Novo Dordisk told UNILAD: "Given that the side effect to which you refer [scurvy] is not a recognised one that appears in the label, I don’t have anything specific I can share on this.

"I do have a more general statement though, and we recommend anyone experiencing any adverse events reports them to the MHRA to ensure relevant safety data is appropriately captured."

UNILAD has previously reached out to Eli Lilly for comment.