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Vitamin C & Diarrhea Image Credit: Pitipat Usanakornkul / EyeEm/EyeEm/GettyImages Vitamin C, an essential nutrient for health, is water-soluble, so your body does not store more than it can use. Getting your daily vitamin C from food sources is easy with a well-balanced diet. However, some people take high-dose supplements of vitamin C to enhance their immune-system functions. Too much vitamin C in your diet can result in stomach upset and bouts of diarrhea. Increased stools to three or more times a day, passing loose-stools with 75 percent water content, or increased amount of stool above 200g per day is the medical definition for diarrhea. Most people have an occasional bout of diarrhea, but it generally subsides after a couple of days. Acute diarrhea is generally associated with contaminated foods and viral infections. Diarrhea may lead to dehydration and loss of electrolytes. High-dose use of vitamin C supplements can lead to acute diarrhea, but it usually ends when the dosage is reduced. Recommended Vitamin C DoseThe recommended daily allowance of vitamin C is 75 milligrams for women and 90 milligrams for men. During pregnancy and lactation the dose can increase from 85 to 120 milligrams per day. Getting the daily recommended amount of vitamin C is important for keeping your immune system healthy and forming collagen, the structural component of tendons and blood vessels. Vitamin C is also an anti-oxidant that protects your cells from harmful free radicals. The tolerable upper-intake level of vitamin C should not exceed 2,000 milligrams per day. Decrease Vitamin CIf you get diarrhea from too much vitamin C, decrease your dose to the recommended amount, or contact your physician for a dosing recommendation. Replace your lost fluids with plenty of water throughout the day, and avoid caffeine and sweet and greasy foods, which may perpetuate your diarrhea. Temporarily lower your fiber intake until your stool bulks up. Follow a bland-food diet composed of bananas, rice, applesauce and toast, because these foods make your stool firmer and replace the nutrients your body has lost from diarrhea. Diarrhea PreventionAlthough high-dose vitamin C may not be detrimental to your health, you can experience gastrointestinal discomfort and diarrhea for longer than necessary with megadoses of vitamin C. Once you recover from the diarrhea, prevent recurrence with a healthy diet that includes whole grains, fruits and vegetables that add fiber for stool bulk and low-fat foods for better digestion. Also drink an adequate amount of water. Foods Rich in Vitamin COranges might immediately come to mind when thinking about vitamin C. But, all fruits and vegetables contain at least some vitamin C. Fruits especially high in vitamin C include:
Vegetables high in vitamin C include:
Also, some cereals as well as other foods and beverages are fortified with vitamin C, meaning the vitamin was been added to the product. The nutrition label will show how much vitamin C has been added.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is an essential nutrient your body needs to heal and grow, however, you can take too much of it. Generally, you can't take too much vitamin C by eating food that is high in it, such as in citrus fruits like oranges. However, taking too many vitamin C supplements can result in significant side effects such as an upset stomach. Because your body doesn't produce vitamin C naturally, it's important to include it in your diet. For the average adult, the daily recommended amount of vitamin C is 65 to 90 milligrams (mg) per day. However, this dose may be different during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, so make sure to consult your doctor before making any changes to your diet. Here are the benefits of vitamin C, how much vitamin C is too much, and who's at risk for serious complications due to an excess of vitamin C. How does vitamin C affect the body?Vitamin C is a powerhouse nutrient the body shouldn't go without. It has the ability to repair tissue, stimulate the production of white blood cells, and reduce inflammation and other physical effects of stress. Vitamin C can also lower your risk of stroke and help with iron absorption. "Vitamin C is a critical antioxidant that is involved in the structure and function of nearly every part of the body," says Beverly Goode-Kanawati, DO, and director and founder of Beverly Medical Center in Raleigh, NC. "For example, vitamin C is needed to create collagen which is the underpinning of structures for everything from the skin to bones." Since the body doesn't create vitamin C on its own, you need to get it in your diet or in supplemental form vitamin C is found in a variety of foods, including:
What happens if you take too much vitamin C?Though vitamin c is an essential nutrient for your body, you can ingest too much of it. Although you cannot technically "overdose" on vitamin C, taking more than the maximum recommended amount of 2,000mg of vitamin C per day may cause uncomfortable side effects, including:
Because vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, you're less likely to experience vitamin toxicity than you would with potassium, for example. This is because water-soluble vitamins dissolve in water and are absorbed in the small intestine. In other words, your body uses what it needs from the vitamin and discards the rest through your urine. "Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin and if you take large doses of it, your body will safely excrete it through the urine," says Dimitar Marinov, MD, Assistant Professor at the Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria. "However, taking large doses for long periods can lead to health problems such as hyperoxaluria and kidney stones. If you have a history of kidney stones, avoid vitamin C supplementation." Both Marinov and Goode-Kanawati claim negative side effects only occur when you take too much vitamin C in supplemental form and that it's nearly impossible to consume an excessive dosage of vitamin C in food form. "The reason is that many supplements contain four to 20 times higher doses than the recommended daily intake," Marinov says. How much vitamin C should you take?So, what's the right amount of vitamin C to take? The right dosage can vary depending on your age, gender, and lifestyle. Listed below are the daily recommended amounts of vitamin C according to the National Institutes of Health: Ingesting large doses of a vitamin C supplement or a cold-fighting product like Emergen-C, however, may cause more serious effects. "The same effects from excess vitamin C ingestion can occur with Emergen-C but because this formula also contains large amounts of potassium, side effects can also include more serious symptoms and signs such as weakness, low blood pressure, and heart arrhythmias," says Rand McClain, DO, and chief medical officer of Live Cell Research. What are some long-term effects of taking too much vitamin C?Vitamin C is water-soluble, so it's difficult to keep it in your system. According to the National Institutes of Health, consuming vitamin C in large doses overtime could cause a reduced amount of vitamin B12 and copper, an accelerated metabolism, allergic responses, and the erosion of dental enamel. In addition, Vitamin C may negatively interact with other medications, including, but not limited to, chemotherapy drugs and cholesterol-reducing medications (statins). For people with hemochromatosis, for example, too much vitamin C could be harmful and even life-threatening. Hemochromatosis is a condition in which the body produces too much iron, which can be toxic and cause damage to the heart, liver, and pancreas. "Vitamin C is not likely to cause hemochromatosis in healthy people, but those who have a higher risk of iron build up should avoid supplementation," says Marinov. Insider's takeawayVitamin C has several important functions, including maintaining healthy blood vessels, bones, and cartilage. Even so, taking too much vitamin C may cause digestive problems or more serious side effects for those with preexisting conditions such as kidney disease or hemochromatosis. "Unless your diet is completely deprived of fresh plant foods vitamin C supplementation is typically not necessary," says Marinov. Related articles from Health Reference:
Tabitha Britt is a New York-based freelance writer and editor. When she's not glued to her computer screen, she can be found walking her beloved pooch, Biscuit. Aside from writing for INSIDER, Tabitha is also the founding editor-in-chief of DO YOU ENDO — the first no-BS endometriosis magazine (by individuals with endometriosis, for individuals with endometriosis) in America. She earned her Master's degree in Creative Publishing and Critical Journalism from The New School of Social Research. Read more Read less Why does too much vitamin C cause diarrhea?We absorb vitamin C in the upper part of the intestine. Unabsorbed vitamin C continues into the lower bowel and causes watery stools or diarrhea. By taking large doses of vitamin C we can induce loose stools or a “levage” which is ideal during a detox (although timing is essential if you decide to do this).
How much vitamin C will cause diarrhea?Taking large amounts (more than 1,000mg per day) of vitamin C can cause: stomach pain. diarrhoea.
Is diarrhea a side effect of vitamin C?Taking too much vitamin C can cause side effects, including: Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.
What are the side effects of taking too much vitamin C?Too much vitamin C may cause digestive symptoms
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.
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Does too much vitamin c cause diarrhea
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