Vitamin C: Can too much be harmful?

My doctor told me to stop taking vitamin C supplements because too much vitamin C can be harmful. What problems does it cause? Is it possible to take too much vitamin C?

- Sandy / Washington

Answer

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin that supports normal growth and development. Vitamin C also helps your body absorb iron. Because your body doesn't produce or store vitamin C, it's important to include vitamin C in your diet. For most people, a small glass of orange juice and a cup of strawberries, a medium orange, or a serving of broccoli provide enough vitamin C for the day. Any extra vitamin C will simply be flushed out of your body in your urine. Still, it's possible to have too much of a good thing. Although too much vitamin C from your diet is unlikely to harm you, megadoses of vitamin C supplements can cause nausea, diarrhea, kidney stones and inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis). Rarely, too much vitamin C can cause faintness, dizziness and fatigue.

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