It’s extremely difficult to overdose on vitamin C through food alone, but it is possible to experience side effects if you somehow overdo it on supplements. The NIH recommends that adults get no more than 2,000 milligrams (mg) a day. It’s equally difficult to be vitamin C deficient, unless you live somewhere with little access to fruits and vegetables. Moore says at the very minimum your body needs 10 mg of vitamin C per day, but the recommended daily allowance (RDA) varies depending on age, gender, life stage, and lifestyle choices like smoking. Show
According to research published by the U.S. Food and Nutrition Board, among people age 19 and older, the RDA is 90 mg for men and 75 mg for women. Anyone who smokes regularly needs extra vitamin C, and should get an additional 35 mg per day. Pregnant women need 85 mg, and lactating women require 120 mg of vitamin C. The Office of Dietary Supplements lists certain groups of people who have a higher risk of vitamin C deficiency. Research, such as a study published in July 2020 in the journal Nutrients, has shown smokers have lower vitamin C levels than nonsmokers, and thus they need a little extra in their diet. Infants who are fed evaporated or boiled milk, both of which are deficient in vitamin C, may not be getting enough of the nutrients they need. Medical conditions that cause malabsorption and certain chronic diseases may reduce the body’s ability to absorb vitamin C, increasing the amount the body needs, according to the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders. Michael Wald, MD, ND, PhD, a registered dietitian in Chappaqua, New York, and the host of the podcast Ask the Blood Detective, says the RDA is the minimum amount needed to prevent vitamin C deficiency, and it isn’t necessarily representative of the ideal vitamin C value each person needs. What Foods Are the Highest in Vitamin C?Because, per the NIH, the FDA does not require food labels to list the vitamin C that naturally occurs in foods, only the amount of vitamin C that has been added, it can be difficult to know which packaged foods are good sources. Luckily, plenty of whole foods such as fruits and vegetables are chock-full of C. Some, like red bell peppers, can provide more than 100 percent of the DV of the vitamin in one or two servings, as USDA data demonstrates. “People should always begin with a diet high in fruits and vegetables,” says Dr. Wald. “Age, genetics, absorption, disease, exercise, stress, sleep, alcohol, and various other lifestyle factors all play a role in the amount of vitamin C one needs.” Note that cooking affects the nutrient content of foods. Because vitamin C is heat sensitive and water soluble, the longer you cook a food with vitamin C, the more C it loses, notes an article published in April 2018 in the journal Food Science and Biotechnology. The authors wrote that microwaving a food with vitamin C led to better retention of the nutrient than boiling. It's even better if you can eat high–vitamin C foods raw. Vegetables That Are High in Vitamin CHere are some of the foods recommended by the NIH that contain vitamin C, as well as flavonoids and bioflavonoids (powerful antioxidants found in fruits and veggies) that work with vitamin C. The following vegetables are excellent sources of vitamin C, according to USDA data. Fruits That Are High in Vitamin CCitrus fruits and fruit juices are famous for being high in vitamin C, but they aren’t alone — or even the best source. The following fruits are considered excellent sources of vitamin C, according to USDA data. What Does Science Say About Vitamin C for Specific Health Conditions?There’s no disputing vitamin C is a vital compound needed for the healthy functioning of our bodies. The list of afflictions and conditions vitamin C is suggested to improve or prevent is ever growing, but not all claims are backed by science.
Moore says there is strong evidence that vitamin C helps the body absorb more iron from food, especially nonheme iron from meat-free food sources. Pairing vitamin C–rich foods with iron-rich foods — for example, spinach with orange segments, or black beans with salsa — is especially important for people who are vegan, vegetarian, or anemic, and for women of childbearing age, Moore says. A Bonus Potential Benefit of Vitamin C? Younger, Healthier SkinA case can be made that vitamin C will keep you looking young and vital. Per an October 9, 2020 article in Scientific Reports, vitamin C stimulates the production of collagen — a protein that helps keep your skin firm and full. Diets rich in vitamin C are likely to have other positive benefits for the skin, too. Some benefits noted in the study included reducing the formation of scars, preventing wrinkles, and maintaining skin's overall health. Vitamin C creams and serums have been on the market for a while now, and the review study found that topical applications of vitamin C produced better results for collagen formation, although further research is needed. Additional reporting by Cristina Holtzer.
Is a glass of OJ or vitamin C tablets your go-to when the sniffles come? Loading up on this vitamin was a practice spurred by Linus Pauling in the 1970s, a double Nobel laureate and self-proclaimed champion of vitamin C who promoted daily megadoses (the amount in 12 to 24 oranges) as a way to prevent colds and some chronic diseases. Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin. This means that it dissolves in water and is delivered to the body’s tissues but is not well stored, so it must be taken daily through food or supplements. Even before its discovery in 1932, nutrition experts recognized that something in citrus fruits could prevent scurvy, a disease that killed as many as two million sailors between 1500 and 1800. [1] Vitamin C plays a role in controlling infections and healing wounds, and is a powerful antioxidant that can neutralize harmful free radicals. It is needed to make collagen, a fibrous protein in connective tissue that is weaved throughout various systems in the body: nervous, immune, bone, cartilage, blood, and others. The vitamin helps make several hormones and chemical messengers used in the brain and nerves. [2] While megadosing on this vitamin is not uncommon, how much is an optimum amount needed to keep you healthy, and could taking too much be counterproductive? Recommended Amounts
The intestines have a limited ability to absorb vitamin C. Studies have shown that absorption of vitamin C decreases to less than 50% when taking amounts greater than 1000 mg. In generally healthy adults, megadoses of vitamin C are not toxic because once the body’s tissues become saturated with vitamin C, absorption decreases and any excess amount will be excreted in urine. However, adverse effects are possible with intakes greater than 3000 mg daily, including reports of diarrhea, increased formation of kidney stones in those with existing kidney disease or history of stones, increased levels of uric acid (a risk factor for gout), and increased iron absorption and overload in individuals with hemochromatosis, a hereditary condition causing excessive iron in the blood. [2] Absorption does not differ if obtaining the vitamin from food or supplements. Vitamin C is sometimes given as an injection into a vein (intravenous) so higher amounts can directly enter the bloodstream. This is usually only seen in medically monitored settings, such as to improve the quality of life in those with advanced stage cancers or in controlled clinical studies. Though clinical trials have not shown high-dose intravenous vitamin C to produce negative side effects, it should be administered only with close monitoring and avoided in those with kidney disease and hereditary conditions like hemochromatosis and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Vitamin C is involved with numerous metabolic reactions in the body, and obtaining the RDA or slightly higher may be protective against certain disease states. However, a health benefit of taking larger amounts has not been found in people who are generally healthy and well-nourished. Cell studies have shown that at very high concentrations, vitamin C can switch roles and act as a tissue-damaging pro-oxidant instead of an antioxidant. [2,3] Its effects in humans at very high doses well beyond the RDA are unclear, and can lead to increased risk of kidney stones and digestive upset. Vitamin C and HealthThere is interest in the antioxidant role of vitamin C, as research has found the vitamin to neutralize free radical molecules, which in excess can damage cells. Vitamin C is also involved in the body’s immune system by stimulating the activity of white blood cells. Does this translate to protection from certain diseases? Chronic diseases Although some epidemiological studies that follow large groups of people over time have found a protective effect of higher intakes of vitamin C (from food or supplements) from cardiovascular disease and certain cancers, other studies have not. Randomized controlled trials have not found a benefit of vitamin C supplements on the prevalence of cardiovascular disease or cancer. The inconsistency of the data overall prevents the establishment of a specific vitamin C recommendation above the RDA for these conditions. [2] Age-related vision diseases Vitamin C has also been theorized to protect from eye diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration. Human studies using vitamin C supplements have not shown a consistent benefit, though there appears to be a strong association between a high daily intake of fruit and vegetables and decreased risk of cataracts. [4] The common cold Despite being a popular fix, vitamin C’s cold-fighting potential hasn’t panned out. Reviews of several studies show that megadoses (greater than 500 mg daily) of supplemental vitamin C have no significant effect on the common cold, but may provide a moderate benefit in decreasing the duration and severity of colds in some groups of people. [2] Small trials suggest that the amount of vitamin C in a typical multivitamin taken at the start of a cold might ease symptoms, but for the average person, there is no evidence that megadoses make a difference, or that they prevent colds. [5] Food SourcesFruits and vegetables are the best sources of this vitamin.
Signs of DeficiencyVitamin C deficiency is rare in developed countries but may occur with a limited diet that provides less than 10 mg daily for one month or longer. In developed countries, situations at greatest risk for deficiency include eating a diet restricted in fruits and vegetables, smoking or long-term exposure to secondhand smoke, and drug and alcohol abuse. The following are the most common signs of a deficiency.
Did You Know?
RelatedVitamins and Minerals References
Updated March 2020 Terms of UseThe contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The Nutrition Source does not recommend or endorse any products. |