Ascorbic acid, commonly known as vitamin C, is generally regarded as safe when you get it from foods and from supplements at recommended amounts. Ascorbic acid is water soluble, which means the body eliminates excess through urine rather than storing it in fat cells. Nevertheless, high doses of ascorbic acid can cause numerous adverse effects. Consult a qualified health care provider before taking vitamin C supplements.
Digestive Effects
Ascorbic acid supplements can cause gastrointestinal side effects, including gas, upset stomach, abdominal cramps, gastritis, esophagitis, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, including severe diarrhea. Gastrointestinal side effects have been reported with doses as low as 1 g per day, but the effects are typically associated with doses of more than 2 g per day, according to Drugs.com.
Dental Erosion
If you want to take high doses of ascorbic acid, swallowing tablets or capsules whole may be a better idea than chewing tablets. As its name indicates, ascorbic acid is acidic, and regular chewing of vitamin C tablets can cause dental erosion, notes MayoClinic.com.
Kidney Stones and Kidney Dysfunction
If you have kidney problems, talk with your doctor before taking vitamin C, recommends the University of Maryland Medical Center. Ascorbic acid supplements have been connected with kidney stones, which have symptoms of pain in the abdomen and back, and painful urination. High doses of injected ascorbic acid can lead to kidney dysfunction, according to MayoClinic.com.
Rebound
If you take high doses of ascorbic acid for the long term, you may experience low blood levels of vitamin C if you stop taking the supplement or lower the dosage suddenly. Gradually decreasing your intake of ascorbic acid can prevent this adverse effect, advises MayoClinic.com.
Pregnancy Considerations
Rarely, newborns have developed scurvy because they became tolerant or resistant to vitamin C when the mother took ascorbic acid supplements during pregnancy, notes MayoClinic.com. Premature births may also increase with ascorbic acid supplementation.
Contraindication
Because vitamin C increases iron absorption from foods, you should not take ascorbic acid supplements if you have hemochromatosis, a condition in which excess iron builds up in the body. In addition, people with glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency may experience red blood cell destruction when taking large doses of ascorbic acid. People with conditions worsened by increased acid in the body also should avoid high doses of vitamin C. These conditions include cirrhosis, gout, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria and renal tubular acidosis.
Allergic Reaction
It's possible to have an allergic reaction to high doses of ascorbic acid. The University of Maryland Medical Center advises that most commercial ascorbic acid supplements are made from corn, so you need to avoid those supplements if you are sensitive or allergic to corn. Signs of an allergic reaction may include a rash, hives, trouble breathing, tightness in the chest, and facial or mouth swelling. At the first sign of an allergic reaction, call for immediate medical attention.
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