Too Much Vitamin C Side Effects

Of all the vitamins in the vitamins family, Vitamin C is said to be one of the safest and most reliable of all vitamins. This is true only if vitamin C is taken in moderation. Like there are side effects of high intake of any substance, there are too much vitamin C side effects as well.

There are a number of questions in regards to side effects of too much vitamin c. Let us see, what are the most common questions asked.

• Can too much vitamin c be bad for you? The other question in the same league is, "Is taking too much vitamin c bad?"
• Is too much vitamin c bad during pregnancy?
• What does too much vitamin c do to you?
• Can too much vitamin c make you sick?

Is Too Much Vitamin C Harmful?
Vitamin C is indeed beneficial for the body, but it is important to understand how much vitamin c is good. A vitamin c overdose can have adverse effects on the body which can disrupt the functioning of several of the body organs. Read more on vitamin c overdose. Let's read further to find what can a high vitamin c intake cause.

• Diarrhea: Vitamin C helps in the fight against constipation, but too much vitamin c causes diarrhea. If you have been taking an extra dose of vitamin c in your diet, apart from your daily dose of fruits and vegetables, talk to your health care professional, to find out if vitamin C is the factor causing diarrhea.
• Nausea: Over dose of vitamin C can cause nausea in some patients. Therefore, it is a good thought to have a dose of vitamin C prescribed from your health care professional instead of you administering it on your own.
• Renal Failure: Hemochromatosis, is an inherited condition, where there is an overload of iron. Since vitamin C aids in iron absorption, people suffering from hemochromatosis should not be prescribed Vitamin C. It can cause renal failure in such patients.
• Fatigue: Although vitamin C aids in absorption of iron, overdose of it, can cause fatigue in some people.
• Abdominal Cramps: The other side effect of overdose of vitamin C is that it causes abdominal cramps.
• Kidney Stones: The extra vitamins present in the body are normally flushed out of the body. However in the case of vitamin C, if it is not flushed out, it can cause kidney stones, as along with iron, vitamin C also helps in the absorption of calcium. High amounts of calcium can cause kidney stones. Therefore, the intake of vitamin C should be in moderation.
• Hindrance in Cancer Treatment: It has been noted that, too much of vitamin C can cause a hindrance in certain cancer treatments.
• Indigestion: If a person has a history of heartburn or indigestion, too much of vitamin C can aggravate the condition.
• Insomnia: Among various side effects of vitamin C, insomnia is caused due to an overdose.
• Irritation of Esophagus: Like indigestion, too much of vitamin C can cause acid reflux, hence the irritation of the esophagus. Read more on acid reflux disease.
• Drowsiness: One of the side effects of overdose of vitamin C is drowsiness.
• Decreased Vitamin B12: Excessive amounts of Vitamin C can cause decreased levels of Vitamin B12 in the body.
• Increased Demand of Oxygen: If you take too much of vitamin C it can give rise to an increased demand for oxygen, which can result in added pressure on the heart.
• Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach lining is called gastritis. Overdose of vitamin C can cause inflammation of the stomach lining.
• Erosion of Teeth: If a person has been using chew-able vitamin C for a very long period of time, it can cause erosion of the teeth as well.
• Deep Vein Thrombosis: Although Vitamin C is beneficial, mega-doses of vitamin C can cause deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
• Harmful to Red Blood Cells: Excessive amounts of vitamin C can be harmful to the red blood cells, as it causes the destruction of these cells.

It is necessary, that we take the normal daily intake of vitamin C, as it is required for the body. However, as there are good effects, the flip side being that too much vitamin C side effects are also many. Vitamin C is a vital constituent for the normal and healthy functioning of the human body, however, keeping its doses in check, are as important for your good health and well-being.