Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is not produced in the body. While many people get enough of the vitamin through their diet, some may turn to vitamin C supplements to meet their needs. Although vitamin C has been linked with the prevention or treatment of certain disease, no scientific evidence as of September 2011 suggests that it would be helpful in preventing or treating stomach disorders. If you have a stomach disorder and are interested in taking vitamin C supplements, ask your doctor for advice.
Recommended Intake
Vitamin C is usually considered safe as long as you take an appropriate dosage of the supplement. The recommended dietary allowance of vitamin C is 75 milligrams a day for adult females and 90 milligrams a day for adult males. While getting slightly more than these amounts should not cause any adverse reactions, exceeding the tolerable upper intake of this vitamin may cause undesirable or even serious side effects. All adults, regardless of gender, should not exceed 2,000 milligrams a day unless they have explicit permission from a doctor to do so.
Risks of Getting Too Much
Although you may want to take vitamin C supplements to ease the symptoms of stomach disorders, too much vitamin C may actually cause gastrointestinal upset. This may include stomach cramps, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea or upset stomach. Individuals with specific stomach disorders, such as hemochromatosis, may experience additional adverse side effects.
Hemochromatosis
Hemochromatosis is a disorder that causes too much iron to be absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. This condition may be acquired genetically or may occur because of diseases such as sideroblastic anemia, thalassemia, hemolytic anemia or chronic alcoholism. People with this condition need to be particularly cautious about getting too much vitamin C, as this vitamin may worsen the iron overload which occurs with this condition and may result in damage to body tissues. If you have this condition, talk to your doctor about the potential risks before taking vitamin C supplements.
Warning
You should also talk to a doctor before taking vitamin C supplements if you take any medications or other supplements for your stomach disorder or another condition. Vitamin C supplements are known to interact negatively with amphetamine, benzphetamine, deferoxamine, methamphetamine, dextroamphetamine, lisdexamfetamine, certain cancer treatments and certain cholesterol medications. Report all of your current medications and supplements to a doctor before taking a vitamin C supplement to rule out other potentially harmful interactions.
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