Ascorbic acid is another name for vitamin C. This vitamin is essential for forming collagen, hormones, carnitine and amino acids in the body. It helps with iron absorption, wound healing and immune function. Since this antioxidant is water soluble, excess amounts are not stored in the body but excreted through your urine. However, very large doses of vitamin C can cause toxicity symptoms.
Vitamin C Recommendations
The recommended dietary allowances for vitamin C depend on your age and sex. Children up to 6 months old need 40 mg per day; between 7 and 12 months old, 50 mg per day; between 1 and 3 years old, 15 mg per day; between 4 and 8 years old, 25 mg per day; and between 9 and 13, 45 mg per day. Males between 14 and 18 years old need 75 mg per day, and those 19 and above need 90 mg per day. Females between 14 and 18 years old need 65 mg per day, and those 19 and above need 75 mg per day. Smokers and women who are pregnant and breastfeeding have higher vitamin C requirements.
Toxicity Signs
Vitamin C intake below 2,000 mg per day, which is the upper limit set by the Food and Nutrition Board, does not cause toxicity symptoms. However, some people take mega doses up to 10 g per day, and these amounts can cause diarrhea, stomach upset and nausea, and increase the risk for the absorption of toxic amounts of iron.
Particular Concerns
If you have hemochromatosis or thalassemia, you should not take high amounts of ascorbic acid supplements, since they increase iron absorption. Ascorbic acid supplements interfere with the medications warfarin, disulfiram and amygdalin. Taking large amounts of vitamin C supplements can also increase your risk for cysteine, oxalate or urate kidney stones.
Considerations
If you are taking high doses of ascorbic acid, you should gradually lower your dose rather than stopping it suddenly. Abruptly lowering your dose of ascorbic acid could cause symptoms of vitamin C deficiency, such as bleeding gums and loose teeth, according to Drugs.com.
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