Ascorbic acid is the chemical name for vitamin C; the name comes from the observation that vitamin C prevents the disease scurvy. Humans are among very few animals that can't produce vitamin C and have to consume it. For those who like to take megadoses of the vitamin in the form of supplements, it appears there are very few safety concerns.
Ascorbic Acid
Ascorbic acid is often confused with citric acid because it, like citric acid, is present in large concentrations in citrus fruits. Ascorbic acid, however, is a vitamin; citric acid is not. Vitamin C has many different roles in the body. For one thing, it's an antioxidant, explain Drs. Reginald Garrett and Charles Grisham in their book "Biochemistry." This means it helps to prevent damage to cellular components from radiation and environmental toxins. It also has roles in immune function and in helping to produce connective tissue.
Vitamin C Dosage
Most animals have the ability to produce their own vitamin C and don't need to consume it, but humans are a rare exception. According to the Linus Pauling Institute, adult men need 90 mg/day, while adult women need 75 mg/day if they're not pregnant, and 80 mg/day if they are. Children don't require as much of the vitamin. Smokers, because of regular exposure to toxins that can damage cells, should try to get 110-125 mg/day.
Safety
Because vitamin C is water soluble---it dissolves in water, and any you take in excess of your cellular requirements is excreted in urine---it's unlikely to have toxic effects in the body. The Material Safety Data Sheet for ascorbic acid notes no known toxic dose, but suggests instead that the vitamin might cause harm in large doses. No scientific studies have yet established a toxic dose.
Usage
If you're interested in taking megadoses of vitamin C---quantities far in excess of the recommended daily amounts---you're probably safe in doing so. However, while the practice is quite popular as a home remedy for oncoming illness, there's no scientific data to suggest that vitamin C does any particular good in preventing colds or other infections. Further, because you excrete excess vitamin C, you can't "store" it for later, so even if you take megadoses when you're ill, you should still get the recommended daily amount when you're healthy.
References
- "Biochemistry"; Reginald Garrett, Ph.D., and Charles Grisham, Ph.D.; 2007
- Linus Pauling Institute: Vitamin C
- MSDS: Ascorbic Acid
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