Vitamin C is an important nutrient that should be consumed daily for good health, since it is water soluble and the body does not store it from day to day. It is found in many fruits and vegetables, including oranges, lemons, grapefruits, spinach, broccoli, tomatoes, strawberries and red peppers. Vitamin C is also in most multivitamins and single-nutrient vitamin C supplements are available as well. However, pregnant women need to take care not to get too much or too little of this vitamin.
Recommended Dosage
The recommended daily allowance for pregnant women ages 18 and under is 80mg per day, and for pregnant women 19 and over the recommended daily allowance is 85mg. Higher amounts are safe as long as the vitamin C is obtained from foods, according to the Mayo Clinic, but care should be taken when taking supplements during pregnancy.
Function
Vitamin C is an antioxidant, and is also essential in the formation of collagen, the conversion of fat to energy, the conversion of cholesterol to bile and the production of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine, which affects mood. Consuming larger amounts of vitamin C may help to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, cataracts and gout, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.
Considerations
Smoking and taking certain medications, including some types of birth control and aspirin, can decrease the absorption of vitamin C, increasing the amount that needs to be consumed to meet the body's needs, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.
Large doses of vitamin C may also reduce the effectiveness of some blood thinners.
Warning
It is possible to overdose on vitamin C. Symptoms of an overdose include an upset stomach and diarrhea. Pregnant women who take high amounts of vitamin C throughout their pregnancy sometimes have babies who develop scurvy after birth when they no longer have access to such high levels of vitamin C, according to the American Pregnancy Association.
Expert Insight
Pregnant women should get their vitamin C from food, as taking supplements in high amounts may not be safe. Taking vitamin C supplements in excess of the recommended amounts may increase the risk of preterm birth, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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