vitamin C

Your body needs vitamin C (ascorbic acid) for several important reasons. This includes protecting your cells from chemical damage, building collagen to help your skin and bones stay strong, and helping your body absorb iron from food. If you have vitamin C (ascorbic acid) levels that are too low, you can develop a serious condition called scurvy, which causes weakness, fatigue, and aches. While scurvy is very rare nowadays, it can be treated with the injection form of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), which is typically given by a healthcare provider in the hospital. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is also believed to help fight common cold symptoms and possibly slow down an eye condition called macular degeneration when taken with other nutrients.

The recommended amount of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) that you need per day differs based on age. It can also differ depending on whether you smoke, you're pregnant, or you're breastfeeding. In general, it's recommended for adults to get 75 mg to 90 mg per day. The recommendation for children ranges from 15 mg to 75 mg per day. Most people can get enough vitamin C (ascorbic acid) from their diet, but some people might need help to do so by taking supplements. For vitamin C (ascorbic acid) supplements, the manufacturers' recommended dose for adults and children is 500 mg per day, which is much greater than the recommended daily intake of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). Depending on your other medical conditions, your provider might tell you to take a different dose of vitamin C (ascorbic acid). It's recommended that adults don't take more than 2,000 mg of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) per day because of risks of stomach upset. Ask your child's provider about the maximum amount of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) your child can take since it depends on their age.

Taking too much vitamin C (ascorbic acid) can cause stomach problems, like diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps. Though rare, studies also show that adult men who take too much vitamin C (ascorbic acid) might develop kidney stones. But it's important to note that most of the time, your body can get rid of any extra vitamin C (ascorbic acid) it doesn't need. So taking too much of the vitamin typically isn't a medical emergency that requires treatment. If you think you or your child accidentally took too much vitamin C (ascorbic acid), call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away to learn what to look out for.

Maybe. Some research suggests that taking 1,000 mg to 2,000 mg of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) every day might lower how severe your cold symptoms are. Taking this dose might also shorten how long your cold symptoms last, but only by 10% of the typical time, which probably isn't noticeable. Additionally, the results are mixed in terms of taking vitamin C (ascorbic acid) after you start having cold symptoms. But for some people who regularly take vitamin C (ascorbic acid), it might be possible to shorten the length of a cold by about half a day if they take extra doses when they start to feel cold symptoms coming on. Keep in mind that taking high doses of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) can cause side effects like nausea and vomiting. If you have questions about whether taking vitamin C (ascorbic acid) will be helpful for your cold, ask your provider.

Don't take a vitamin C (ascorbic acid) supplement unless your provider says you need a supplement. Most people already get enough vitamin C (ascorbic acid) from food (e.g., fruits, red and green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli). Because of this, most people typically don't need a vitamin C (ascorbic acid) supplement. Taking extra vitamin C (ascorbic acid) without needing it won't help you and might even cause stomach side effects (e.g., diarrhea, nausea, stomach cramps). Your provider might recommend vitamin C (ascorbic acid) for you if you don't get enough vitamin C through foods (e.g., trouble absorbing nutrients as a result of certain bowel problems, diet limitations, problems with food access).