Vitamin C Dosage: How Much Is Enough?

If you smoke, you need an extra 35 mg per day because smoking increases oxidative stress.

Now, compare that to a 1000mg tablet. That’s more than 10 times the daily requirement for most people! Do we actually need that much?

What Happens When You Take Too Much Vitamin C?

More isn’t always better. The same goes to Vitamin C. When you go way overboard (above 2000mg Vitamin C per day), you might run into side effects like:

🚨 Stomach issues –  Due to excess vitamin C remains unabsorbed in the intestines, it can create an osmotic effect, leading to bloating, cramps, nausea, or diarrhea [1].

🚨 Kidney stones – High doses can increase oxalate in urine, which can lead to kidney stones [2].

🚨 Iron overload – Vitamin C enhances iron absorption, which is beneficial for most people but can be harmful for those with hemochromatosis (a condition where your body absorbs too much iron), as excess absorption may lead to organ damage over time [3].

Why Small, Frequent Doses Are Better

Our body absorbs vitamin C best in small amounts, just like how our body absorbs water better in small amounts rather than drinking 2 liters of water straight at one shot. Studies show that when you take under 200mg at a time, absorption is more efficient.

But when you take at super high amounts, absorption drops, and most of it gets excreted [4]. That’s why taking multiple smaller doses throughout the day is better than one huge dose. So instead of taking a single 1000mg tablet, it’s way more effective to take 90-100mg three times a day. Especially for people with a sensitive stomach, smaller doses are gentler on the stomach and less likely to cause bloating or gastric.

The Smarter Way to Get Your Vitamin C – Try Vital C Fruit Plus!

Instead of megadosing with synthetic vitamin C, why not get a balanced dose from natural sources?