Excess vitamin C: symptoms, causes and risks

Excess vitamin C can cause some stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, especially when consuming more than 2000 mg of vitamin C supplement per day.

Having a healthy and balanced diet is enough to guarantee the daily need for vitamin C, and it is important to consume foods such as kiwi, strawberries, oranges, broccoli and peppers, for example.

Therefore, the use of vitamin C supplements should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor or nutritionist, if necessary, as it may be necessary to assess the person’s general health and medical history to adapt the dose and timing of the treatment. treatment and, thus, it is possible to avoid excessive intake of the vitamin.

Symptoms of excess vitamin C

The most common symptoms that may indicate too much vitamin C include:

• Diarrhea;
• Nausea;
• Vomiting;
• Asia;
• Dor abdominal.

Symptoms generally involve the digestive system, due to the non-absorption of excess vitamin C, however, there are other symptoms that may also be related to excess vitamin C, mainly burning when urinating and increased urine volume.

If you are taking a supplement with vitamin C and these symptoms appear, it is important to consult a doctor.

What causes excess vitamin C

Excess vitamin C is generally related to the intake of a large daily amount of this vitamin, which happens mainly through supplements, especially when they are taken without medical advice and in doses greater than 3 grams per day.

It is important to mention that consuming foods rich in vitamin C is not responsible for excess vitamin C in the body. Discover foods rich in vitamin C.

Rich in excess vitamin C

Vitamin C has low toxicity, but excessive consumption can increase the risk of:

1. Kidney stones

High doses of vitamin C can contribute to the formation of kidney stones, especially in people who already have kidney disease or a predisposition to it.

2. Increase iron absorption

Excess vitamin C could cause excess iron absorption at intestinal levels, as this vitamin causes the iron found in foods of plant origin to be absorbed in the intestine more easily.

This situation could mainly affect people who have diseases such as hereditary hemochromatosis, thalassemia, sickle cell anemia or G6PDF deficiency, as it could increase the amount of iron in the body and cause complications. Therefore, people who have these diseases should consult their doctor before taking vitamin C supplements.

How to eliminate excess vitamin C

To eliminate excess vitamin C in the body, it is important to drink water, as this helps the body to facilitate the elimination of excess vitamin C through urine. Furthermore, it is also recommended to stop taking vitamin C supplements and consult your doctor.