While the acute toxic dose for vitamin C has not been determined, the chronic toxic dose is more than 2 g/day. The recommended daily amount for vitamin C is 75 milligrams (mg) a day for women and 90 mg a day for men. During pregnancy, 120 mg a day are recommended.
Too much vitamin C can cause undesirable effects. The symptoms of hypervitaminosis C in adults are manifested as feelings of weakness, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, insomnia, headache, allergic reactions to skin, heartburn, and stomachache.
Overdoses of ascorbic acid have been reported to be associated with increased nervous excitability, itching, and rashes on the skin in children.
The most common side effect of high vitamin C intake is digestive distress. In general, these side effects do not occur as a result of eating foods that contain vitamin C. They occur only as a result of taking high doses of vitamin C supplements.
Vitamin C enhance iron absorption. People with hemochromatosis are in danger of a vitamin C overdose. This condition causes human body to store excessive amounts of iron, which is exacerbated by taking too much vitamin C. This condition can lead to body tissue damage.
An excess of vitamin C in the body stimulates the accumulation of oxalates and their deposition in the renal tissue and gall bladder. An overdose of vitamin C during pregnancy can cause severe disorders in the metabolism of the fetus.
Hypervitaminosis C
