Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)

Is It Bad To Have Too Much Vitamin C

Nidhi Nangia
By Nidhi Nangia. Updated: March 6, 2022
Is It Bad To Have Too Much Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that is needed to support normal development and growth of the body. It also helps in the absorption of iron we receive through our foods. Because this vitamin does not produce naturally inside our body, it is important to get it through diet and supplements. But excess of everything is bad, and taking it too much can be harmful as well. Here at OneHowTo.com, we are going to discuss about whether is it bad to have too much vitamin C or not.

You may also be interested in: The Signs of Vitamin C Deficiency

Contents

  1. How much is the recommended dosage
  2. Immediate effects
  3. Severe effects of vitamin C overdose
  4. Conclusion

How much is the recommended dosage

For an average person, a cup of strawberries, a large orange, some chopped broccoli or red pepper is enough to provide the recommended dosage of Vitamin C for a day. In most cases, any extra vitamin that you intake is flushed out of the body through urine. An adult should take at least 65 to 90 mg of vitamin C in a day, not exceeding 2000 mg in a day. Although vitamin C is safe, too much of it can cause mild to severe side effects.

Immediate effects

If you have taken too much of vitamin C in diet or supplement form, you may immediately start experiencing diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, cramping and heartburn. Sometimes you may have a headache too. In most cases, it happens when you are trying to boost antioxidant levels in your body, such as for treating a cold. Such symptoms are relieved on their own within a couple of hours, and you are ready to take more vitamin C soon.

Is It Bad To Have Too Much Vitamin C - Immediate effects

Severe effects of vitamin C overdose

If you take excess of vitamin C for a long period of time, you may increase your risks of developing insomnia and kidney stones. As this vitamin is helpful in absorption of iron, its excess may cause more iron to get absorbed, due to which your tissues may require more oxygen. This is because iron and oxygen travel together through red blood cells. If you have an iron related disorder in your order, such as hemochromatosis, taking too much vitamin C can be extremely dangerous.

Is It Bad To Have Too Much Vitamin C - Severe effects of vitamin C overdose

Conclusion

While excess of vitamin C can be harmful, severe effects occur only due to supplementation rather than due to over-consumption through diet. So, if you are eating enough of oranges, red peppers, grapefruits and other rich sources of vitamin C, you do not need vitamin C supplementation. However, if you are not eating enough foods rich in vitamin C you may want take vitamin supplements.

This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.

If you want to read similar articles to Is It Bad To Have Too Much Vitamin C, we recommend you visit our Drugs & supplements category.

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Is It Bad To Have Too Much Vitamin C