While ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, is often praised for its ability to boost immunity and speed healing, its side effects are rarely mentioned. In individuals with irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, these side effects are critical, as they can exacerbate the digestive symptoms of the disorder. To avoid complications, you should carefully monitor the amount of vitamin C you consume if you suffer from IBS.
Ascorbic Acid
Ascorbic acid, commonly known as vitamin C, is a vitamin that the body needs to grow and repair tissue. It is also critical for repairing teeth and bones as well as for healing injuries. Vitamin C is water soluble, meaning that the body cannot store it and needs to obtain it from foods and/or supplements. Fruits and vegetables that are good sources of Vitamin C include oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, peppers, watermelon, broccoli, mango, tomatoes, potatoes, cranberries, and pineapple. Vitamin C provides benefits as an antioxidant, helping to counteract free radicals from damaging the body when food is converted to energy.
Benefits of Ascorbic Acid
There are several benefits and potential uses of ascorbic acid. Having low amounts of vitamin C in the diet has been linked to gallbladder disease, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, stroke, and some types of cancer. Vitamin C may protect against various health conditions besides these, such as heart disease, colds, osteoarthritis, and asthma. Ascorbic acid also helps to enhance immune system functioning, treat asthma and eczema, and heal injuries. A deficiency in vitamin C can lead to gingivitis, hair damage, bleeding gums, greater susceptibility to infection, and slower healing of injuries.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
IBS is a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. Tests reveal no structural damage to the intestines; diagnosis is typically made based on symptom profile. Common symptoms are pain in the abdomen, muscle spasms, bloating, gas, and a change in regular bowel movements. Persons with IBS tend to experience either chronic constipation or diarrhea, while some experience both. The cause of the disorder is unknown, but it is thought that persons with IBS react to stress and certain foods. Irregular bowel motility and intestinal fluids impact the symptoms of the disorder as well.
Ascorbic Acid for IBS
Ascorbic acid may provide general health benefits for IBS; however, it can have some side effects for people with the disorder as well. Vitamin C in high doses can cause diarrhea, stomach pain, and gas. Because ascorbic acid has a laxative effect, if you have IBS that is predominantly diarrhetic in form, you should be careful when taking vitamin C. Also, symptoms of gas and bloating may occur when the acidity of vitamin C interacts with the more neutral balance in the intestines. These side effects can be especially uncomfortable and painful if you have IBS, exacerbating symptoms you already have. So while ascorbic acid may benefit overall health, persons with IBS should cautious about their ascorbic acid intake, as it can have potentially harmful side effects.
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