How much vitamin C is too much? And why?

Question

I've seen that 2000mg is the max, but no explanation as to why, when the very guy who discovered its effects took 9x that, daily. I've had an on/off cold/sore throat going on for way too long and have decided to majorly boost my immune system. So how much do you think I should have?

Answer 1

A normal daily dose is about 500mg - 1000mg, and overdosing yourself with vitamin C to cure a cold wont cure anything. Here is why : Vitamin C is a water soluble vitamin which means your body doesnt store it in your fat reserves it is desolved in the water within your body so when your body has enough vitamin C and cannot store it it simply exits your body by passing through your urine....so if you take too much your wasting it really !

Answer 2

I used to be big on Vit-C (and still am) but here's what I found.

2,000 mg is about the max and that's because of something called Hypervitaminosis C (That basically means "The Condition of Having Too Much Vitamin C"). The worst I've heard are Kidney Stone Formation (nephrolithiasis) as to what it would cause. So if I thought it'd work, I'd tell you to go for it as long as you didn't mind the potential risk of nepholithiasis.

Vitamin C is an antioxidant (which means it negates free radicals, which are harmful), but it's really an antioxidant for the fruit, not the human body.

Still to this day, when I get my VERY first sign of a cold or some sort of sickness, I make a concoction I like to call the Vitamin-C booster. I take one pomegranate, two oranges, two lemons, and a lime. I cut them in half and juice them (if it's not pomegranate, just use pomegranate juice - make sure it's organic and no high fructose corn syrup is added). that will yield about a cup of REAL ASCORBIC ACID (~aka Vitamin C).

The best thing to BOOST your immune system is Echinacea. But you can't take it to make you feel better when you're sick. It's used to increase your immunity strength but it's effects are not immediate.

For now, if you're sick, try "black elderberry root extract" - the effects are nearly immediate.

GET WELL SOON

Answer 3

Vitamin C naturally is probably impossible to overdose on. You can take suppliments which makes it much easier to do. The overdose is actually an immunity. You can become immuned to Vitamin C, which will require you to take a larger dose unless you want something like skurvy. My guess is that 100 times the daily allowance would start to get into that realm.

Answer 4

Linus Pauling MD thinks it's OK to megadose vit C. It is water soluble, therefore you will pee out any excesses. The vitamins that can be toxic because they build up in you fat cells includes vitamins ADEK. But even vit B6 can hurt nerves a little if taken in too high doses for too long. Remember to confirm this type of info with your doctor.

Answer 5

500 Mg is enogh or little more exept You need for any particular reason as after surgery. If you generally take more that 500 Mg daily, it goes out by pissing and with the other outlet. Still it is not recommended to take excess. Ok .

Answer 6

If I have too much I get Cold sores- Its best to stick to the recommened dosage- 2000 mg is a lot and no need to go for more..

Answer 7

You should not take more than what is recommended on a vitamin supplement bottle -- and only take one type of supplement at a time. As far as foods go, you will just pee any excess out.

Answer 8

Vitamin C is water soluble and so there technically is no maximum amount that you can take. However as with any supplement it is not good to take more than recommended.
( note that this advise should not be a substitue for a physician)

Answer 9

An overdose of Vitamin C is likely impossible. Too much will cause an upset stomach, but that's about all. Your body will absorb what it needs. and you will pee the rest out.

Paramedic in SC

Answer 10

if you continually take 1000mg for more each day for over 5 days, you put yourself at increased risk for kidney stones. which are way worse than a cold. if you have an ongoing cold, for more than 10 days, see your health care provider - you could have mono, strep, or a sinus infection.