![too much vitamin c](https://images.medicinenet.com/images/article/main_image/best-vitamin-c-serum.jpg?output-quality=75)
Taking more than the recommended amount of vitamin C, which is more than 2,000 milligrams per day, results in side effects such as:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain and cramps
- Heartburn
- Insomnia (sleeping disorder)
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Kidney stones
- Hair loss
- Irritability
- Epistaxis (bleeding through the nose)
- Menstrual abnormalities
- Weight loss
- Altered mental status
- Seizures
- Muscle pain and weakness
- Bone fractures
- Drying of the mucus membranes
- Bleeding per rectum
Vitamin C is also called ascorbic acid, which is one of the essential water-soluble vitamins for the body that is naturally available in all vegetables and fruits. It is an antioxidant that is believed to prevent you from getting sick because it boosts immunity, maintains normal blood pressure, prevents inflammation and increases collagen content in the skin.
Although excess intake of vitamin C may not be life-threatening, it can cause several side effects. Because vitamin C is water-soluble, the body can easily expel it through urine and feces, and serious adverse effects of vitamin C toxicity are rare.
What is the recommended dose of vitamin C?
According to the National Institutes of Health, the recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin C with regard to sex and physical condition of a person is described below.
Age group | RDA |
---|---|
0 to 6 months* | 40 |
7 to 12 months* | 50 |
1 to 3 years | 15 |
4 to 8 years | 25 |
9 to 13 years | 45 |
14 to 18 years (males) | 75 |
14 to 18 years (females) | 65 |
19 years and older (males) | 90 |
19 years and older (females) | 75 |
*Vitamin C requirements of infants should be met through the diet. |
Pregnant teens and adolescents (14 to 18 years old) | 80 mg |
Pregnant women (19 years old and older) | 85 mg |
Lactating or breastfeeding teens and adolescents (14 to 18 years old) | 115 mg |
Lactating or breastfeeding women (19 years old and older) | 120 mg |
Smokers | Additional 35 mg beyond the RDA as smoking depletes vitamin C levels in the body |
Vitamin C is responsible for the absorption of dietary iron, so people with increased iron stores in the body (hemochromatosis) must reduce their intake of vitamin C. Usually, the body absorbs less than 50 percent of the ingested vitamin C, so there are fewer chances of overdosing on the vitamin. However, an overdose of vitamin C in people with hemochromatosis may lead to life-threatening tissue damage.
Since they may interact unfavorably with medicines used to treat cancer and heart diseases, a doctor’s approval is required before taking any vitamin C supplements. Additionally, the development of kidney stones has been linked to vitamin C supplementation.
![](https://images.medicinenet.com//images/slideshow/amazing_vitamin_d_s1_wonder_vitamin.jpg)
SLIDESHOW
Vitamin D Deficiency: How Much Vitamin D Is Enough? See SlideshowWhat are the symptoms of vitamin C deficiency?
Whenever there is a vitamin C deficiency, health professionals recommend supplements to rectify the deficiency and allow normal functioning of the body.
Symptoms of vitamin C deficiency include:
- Gum bleeding and tooth loss
- Weight gain without any obvious cause
- Swollen and painful joints
- Weak bones
- Slow healing of wounds
- Rough and bumpy skin
- Corkscrew-shaped body hair
- Bright red hair follicles
- Spoon-shaped fingernails (may have red spots or lines on them)
- Dry and damaged skin
- Bruises (easily formed)
- Anemia (due to chronic iron deficiency)
- Tiredness and low mood
- Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation
- Stone formation in the kidneys
Consumption of too many vitamin C supplements might have serious side effects. However, consumption of excess vitamin C–rich food does not develop negative effects. If a person wants to initiate vitamin supplements and has a history of adverse reactions due to vitamin C, they must consult their physician.
Health News
- One Death, 10 Hospitalizations in Listeria Outbreak Tied to Peaches, Plums
- Charity Scams Get Active Over the Holidays: Expert Tips to Avoid Them
- Too Few Seniors Get Follow-up Care After a Serious Fall
- AI Could Predict a Nonsmoker's Risk for Lung Cancer
- Breast Cancer Rates Higher in Urban vs. Rural Areas
More Health News »
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Does Getting More Vitamin C Really Keep You From Getting Sick?: https://www.houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2020/apr/does-getting-more-vitamin-c-really-keep-you-from-getting-sick/
Vitamin C: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=19&contentid=vitaminc
Top What Happens If You Take Too Much Vitamin C Related Articles
ascorbic acid - oral, Cecon, Vitamin C
chromium
Chromium (trivalent chromium, chromium 3) is an essential trace metal required by the body and may be taken as a dietary supplement by people with chromium deficiency. Common side effects of chromium include headache, irritability, sleep disturbances, insomnia, mood changes, movement (motor) dysfunction, perceptual dysfunction, cognitive dysfunction, destruction of red cells (hemolysis), low red cell count (anemia), and low platelet count (thrombocytopenia). Consult with your doctor if you are anemic, pregnant, or breastfeeding.multivitamins
Multivitamins are a combination of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients used to supplement nutritional deficiency and help maintain good health and normal functioning of the body. Common side effects of multivitamins include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, dark stools, and constipation. Do not give adult multivitamin preparations to children. Multivitamins at recommended doses are generally safe for use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Multivitamins cannot replace a healthy diet.19 Key Vitamins and Minerals
Minerals and vitamins are key nutrients your body needs to thrive. Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, niacin, and riboflavin are just a few of these nutrients. Some vitamins act as antioxidants. Minerals serve many vital roles.Supplement Smarts: Best Ways to Take Different Vitamins
Taking a vitamin supplement to cover your nutritional bases? Find out how and when to take it so your body gets the most from it.Vitamins & Exercise: Heart Attack Prevention Series
Vitamins and exercise can lower your risk for heart attack and heart disease. Folic acid, vitamins, and homocysteine levels are interconnected and affect your risk for heart disease or heart attack. For better heart health, avoid the following fried foods, hard margarine, commercial baked goods, most packaged and processed snack foods, high fat dairy, and processed meats such as bacon, sausage, and deli meats.Vitamins and Calcium Supplements
Vitamins are organic substances that are essential for the proper growth and functioning of the body. Calcium is a mineral essential for healthy bones and is also important for muscle contraction, heart action, and normal blood clotting. Check out the center below for more medical references on vitamins and calcium supplements, including multimedia (slideshows, images, and quizzes), related disease conditions, treatment and diagnosis, medications, and prevention or wellness.Vitamins Quiz
Take the Vitamins & Supplements Quiz to learn just how many essential vitamins your body needs to function!Vitamins and Supplements: What Can You Take to Fight Inflammation?
Arthritis, intense exercise, and sugary or fatty foods are some of the things that can lead to inflammation. Here’s what you can take or add to your diet to help fight it.What Is a Good Family Multivitamin?
When looking for a good multivitamin for your family, consider one that has the following nutrients: vitamin D, Folate, Vitamin B-12Calcium, Iron, Zinc, and Magnesium.What Is the Best Vitamin Supplement to Take?
Dietary supplements are a general term that includes vitamins, minerals, botanicals, probiotics and other products to supplement the diet. The best vitamin supplement differs from person to person depending on their gender, age and any health conditions they have.What Is the Most Effective Vitamin C Serum?
Vitamin C serums are skincare products that contain L-ascorbic acid, ascorbyl-6-palmitate, or magnesium ascorbyl phosphate. Effective vitamin C products contain between an eight and 20 percent concentration of vitamin C. They may also contain tyrosine, zinc, and vitamin E and be in an opaque bottle.Vitamins and Supplements: What to Know Before You Take Herbal Supplements
Not all herbs and supplements are safe, especially if you have certain medical conditions or take some drugs. Find out which ones you may need to skip with the help of this WebMD slideshow.What Vitamin Deficiency Causes Ringing in the Ears?
Ringing in the ears has been linked to vitamin B12 and vitamin D deficiencies. Treating an underlying cause of tinnitus such as a vitamin deficiency may help relieve symptoms.What Vitamins Can Help Boost My Mood?
Studies have identified a few vitamins that can help boost your mood, including vitamin D, B vitamins, vitamin K, and vitamin C.