Is it possible to take too much vitamin C?

Answer From Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient. But you can get too much of it.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin that supports growth and development. It also helps your body absorb iron. Because your body doesn't make or store vitamin C, it's important to include vitamin C in your diet.

Most people can get enough vitamin C for the day in their food. An orange or a cup of strawberries, chopped red pepper or broccoli provides enough vitamin C for the day.

The recommended daily amount for vitamin C is 75 milligrams (mg) a day for women and 90 mg a day for men. During pregnancy, 120 mg a day are recommended. The upper limit for all adults is 2,000 mg a day. Although too much dietary vitamin C is unlikely to be harmful, large doses of vitamin C supplements might cause:

  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Heartburn
  • Stomach (abdominal) cramps
  • Headache

Remember, for most people, a healthy diet provides enough vitamin C.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.

April 28, 2022 See more Expert Answers

See also

  1. Add flax to your baking
  2. Calcium
  3. Calcium for better bones
  4. Timing calcium supplements
  5. Calcium: Think outside the carton
  6. COVID-19 and vitamin D
  7. Can vitamins help prevent a heart attack?
  8. Can zinc supplements help treat hidradenitis suppurativa?
  9. Vitamin C and mood
  10. Fiber supplements
  11. Flaxseed best when ground
  12. Flaxseed for breakfast?
  13. Ground flaxseed
  14. Heartburn medicines and B-12 deficiency
  15. Multivitamins for kids
  16. Nutrition: Does it come in a pill?
  17. Prenatal vitamins
  18. Probiotics and prebiotics
  19. Vitamin C: An essential nutrient
  20. Vitamin D and MS: Any connection?
  21. Vitamin D deficiency
  22. Can a lack of vitamin D cause high blood pressure?
  23. Vitamin D: Essential with calcium
  24. Vitamin D for babies
  25. Vitamin D toxicity
  26. Vitamins for MS: Do supplements make a difference?