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jabag11's avatar

Can you take too much Vitamin C?

Asked by jabag11 (670 points ) January 6th, 2011

I’m not talking about overdosing, I’m talking about taking too much to the point where it becomes unhealthy? Normal amount I would say would be 500mg per day right? So what if I were to start talking 2,000 mg per day instead? or 1,000?

Basically what is the limit? and I am talking about per day. The amount where it is too much, therefor more unhealthy than healthy? I am 19 and am a male.

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18 Answers

Zyx's avatar

Not sure about the numbers but too large a daily dose WILL kill you sooner or later. That goes for everything, even water (though it’s very unlikely you’ll ever have to worry about that).

jaytkay's avatar

What I read says there is no point in taking more than 500mg/day. And 2000 is the upper limit.

Vitamin C Toxicity
The upper limit for vitamin C intake is 2000 mg/day. Up to 10 g/day of vitamin C are sometimes taken for unproven health benefits, such as preventing or shortening the duration of viral infections or slowing or reversing the progression of cancer or atherosclerosis. Such doses may acidify the urine, cause nausea and diarrhea, interfere with the healthy antioxidant-prooxidant balance in the body, and, in patients with thalassemia or hemochromatosis, promote iron overload. Intake below the upper limit does not have toxic effects in healthy adults.

Linus Pauling was a vitamin C fanatic, and the Linus Pauling Institute quotes the 2000mg limit on its site, too:
Linus Pauling Institute

Seraphim's avatar

you can get 1000mg tablets in the uk, they are made out of a material which takes a long time to digest so the vitamin c is released throughout the day. there is no point in taking more than that. from what i have heard taking way too much vitamin c can result in symptoms which actually resemble a vitamin c deficiency. (dont quote me on this though)

filmfann's avatar

I found that when I took too much Vitamin C, my body would know it has too much, and it would dump it all.
Stay within limits.

Rarebear's avatar

As long as you eat a balanced diet, there is no need to take supplemental vitamins for a healthy 19 year old male.

Response moderated (Off-Topic)
lillycoyote's avatar

I think Vitamin C is not retained in your body. If you take too much you just piss it out so it is more about simply wasting money when you take too much. Other vitamins, like A, are stored in the body and you can possibly consume toxic amounts and there are some other issues with A, but I think Vitamin C isn’t a problem, just, as I said, an issue of waste and expense, but I am no expert.

andylee11's avatar

50–60mg Vitamin C per day is enough.

JLeslie's avatar

I believe you can overdose on C, and too much of any vitamin is bad. Many people think if you take large doses of water soluble vitamins, like B’s and C, you just pee out the extra. But, your body still needs to process the vitamin and eventually excrete it. It does not just happen in a minute, and it requires your organs to filter out the extra. I had a friend taking B12 shots once a week, because she heard it was a good idea, and when she went to the doctor he tested her levels, and she was way high outside of normal.

Garebo's avatar

I take up to one to two grams of high quality C per day, more then that it gets Dependish. If you take inferior brands that don’t list where they are manufactured, I guarantee if you have a hint of constipation you will be relieved. The C manufacturing process is quite chemically intensive and can lead to complications, a lot is sold in volume stores from China, and we know about how they like to sell us toys with lead.
I take only Ascorbyl Palmitate or Esterfied C now, and I take as much as I can handle. If it says Ascorbic Acid I don’t take it, it must be combined with a lipid or something, so it is more bio-available.
Linnaeus Pauling, my god how much did he take day before his Noble Prize? And, I am sure it was the sit on the pot type of C too!

jabag11's avatar

thank you so much everyone!

WillWorkForChocolate's avatar

I am 31 and a female, for crying out loud! What does that have to do with all of your questions?

Zyx's avatar

@WillWorkForChocolate For lack of patience: what the hell are you talking about?

WillWorkForChocolate's avatar

@Zyx This person includes, “I’m 19 and a male” on every single question he posts. It’s unnecessary and annoying.

Zyx's avatar

@WillWorkForChocolate Yeah well, it’s not irrelevant when asking medical advice so deal with it.

JLeslie's avatar

I think it is good when young people put there age. Advice might be different for young people than older adults, depending on the question. And, the collective tends to be more caring and less likely to be stern, rude, flip, or obnoxious if we know it is a younger person.

jabag11's avatar

thank you, jesus, @WillWorkForChocolate you are tripping, you need to tie your shoe laces =D. Age is definitely relevant when asking medical questions. You seem smart, I don’t know why you think it’s not.

jabag11's avatar

Thanks @Zyx and @JLeslie , you guys is bomb lol

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