Overdose often happens with any supplement. Whilevitamins C can be rare, there are still possibilities of taking more than you should. Vitamin C is in the group of water-soluble vitamins, so it might be safe even when taken in high dosage. However, it may sometimes pose some health risks.
When it comes to vitamins, we mostly focus on one thing-deficiency. We think less about the possibilities of exceeding the required amount and getting sick because of overdosing. While having inadequatevitamins is risky, having more than your body can manage is equally unhealthy.
Can you overdose on vitamin C?
Although all vitamins are beneficial to the body and may have the same functions, they’re not processed the same. Some types like Vitamin Care water-soluble hence used quickly in the body, and excess is eliminated through urine instead of being stored in the tissues. Such kinds are less risky even when taken in high amounts. Even so, that’s not to imply they’re safe to take in unlimited dosages. You can still get an overdose and experience some side effects. So, in other words, it’s possible to overdose on Vitamin C as long as you consume beyond the recommendable dosage.
What’s the recommended dosage of vitamin C?
The vitamin C limit for adults is 2000 mg per day. Anything beyond that may cause some unpleasant side effects. You can get this nutrient through foods or supplements. Eating foods rich in vitamin C should not cause any health issues. However, consuming too many supplements can lead to health problems.
How do you know you have overdosed?
The body is always right with its reaction. Be keen to notice how it responds after you use your supplements. When you take more than enough, it’ll complain, and you’ll experience mild side effects like bloating, nausea, diarrhea, stomach cramping, and great discomfort in the abdominal area.
What are the severe effects of overdosing?
The effects you experience usually depend on how much extra you took and your body’s tolerance. Most individuals will get mild side effects, but sometimes you can have increased negative results after a long-termintake beyond the recommended amounts. Severe effects you may experience include;
- Ineffectiveness of some medication-niacin simvastatin drug is used to reduce the bad cholesterol and boost the good cholesterol. Vitamin C interferes with the body’s ability to raise good cholesterol in individuals using niacin-simvastatin. Taking both of them is ineffective, so ensure you seek your doctor’s help on how you can make these two effective.
- Leads to bone issues-too much vitamin C in the body is linked to the development of painful bone spurs. Again, low levels of this vitamin are associated with bone issues. This researchshows the importance of consuming a proper dosage of vitamin C supplementation that is neither too little nor too much. Moderate is safe.
- Kidney stones-experts claim an intake of too much vitamin C supplements could lead to excretion of uric acid and oxalate in the urine, leading to the formation of kidney stones.
- Imbalances of nutrients-having high amounts of vitamin C in the body will affect how your body process other nutrients. It can decrease the levels of copper and vitamin B12 in the body.
Do you understand the dosage terms?
Labels on supplement products are meant to guide you on how much vitamin you should take. It’s easy to have an underdose or overdose if you’re not familiar with the term used on these packages.
Daily Value(DV) is the measurement you’ll find on food and supplement labeling. It means the amount of vitamin C you should get for optimized health from a 2000 calories diet. Sometimes it’s used the same as RDA, which usually meansthe quantityyou need to stay healthy and maintain appropriate nourishment.
The number varies from different age groups and gender. Even though RDA and DV are somewhat different, they’re both tools for preventing illnesses and any bad impactof poor nutrition.
How to know your dosage is too much
RDA and DV are meant to help you use the right dosage. But, how will you know when you can consume more than RDA or DV without getting harmful results?Let Tolerable upper intake level(UL) guide you. The upper limit is usually close to RDA, and you can still be safe if you take a dose beyond the RDA or DV and still not reach the UL. In short, it’s not easy to get affected if you take more than DV, as long as it’s lower than UL.
Can vitamin overdose cause death?
In rare cases, death is connected to vitamin toxicity. Such instances happen a megadose of the vitamin leads toextreme complications like damaging an organ or its failure. These deadly effects only occur when there is an exceptional high consumption.
Tips to avoid Vitamin C overdose
Consult and follow your doctor’s directions
It’s a requirement you talk to your doctor before taking any supplement. Ensure you follow all the directions, including how you should take it, what to avoid, time to consume it, and the storage recommendations.
Always read the labels
Labels are on supplement products for a reason. Ensure the ingredients and nutritional profile of the item are relevant to your health needs and body-friendly.
Don’t replace your food with supplements
Foods are critical sources of vitamin C. You should never use over-the-counter vitamins to replace real food. Relying on pure supplementation may add the risks of overdosing. It’s better to get the vitamin through food to reduce the risks.
Don’t forget other vitamins and minerals
Focusing too much on vitamin C in the body denies your body other essential vitamins and minerals. Ensure you also consume foods and supplements that’ll provide you with other types of nutrients. A combination of different nutrients is important as it will give you full benefits of better health.
Conclusion
Vitamin C deficiency is not the only thing you should worry about. Having too much amounts is equally bad for your health. Ensure you take the right amounts of it to stay healthy and protected from side effects. Seek your doctor’s help before using the supplements. Keep in mind that neither high amounts nor less amount is safe. You should take them moderately.
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