Which animal is particularly vulnerable to vitamin C deficiency (scurvy)?
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Remember that guinea pigs are susceptible to vitamin C deficiency (a.k.a. scurvy). Guinea pigs (and primates) are the only species that have an absolute dietary requirement for vitamin C. All other species are able to manufacture vitamin C from other precursors.
Water-soluble vitamins (i.e., vitamin C and B complex) are generally poorly absorbed from the gut and are not stored in the body. This means that they must be provided in the diet on a regular basis.
Dietary supplementation is less dangerous than with fat-soluble vitamins that are stored in the body, as excessive amounts of water soluble vitamins are excreted in the urine.
