Can vitamin C be dangerous, or Caution, overdose of ascorbic acid! How does an overdose of vitamin C manifest? An overdose of vitamin C in a child, what to do.

Ascorbic acid is considered the most important vitamin in our body. Such close attention is due to its effect on the human body. The most important function is to maintain immunity and influence the cardiovascular system.

Long-term deficiency of ascorbic acid leads to illness and death. What are the consequences of an overdose of vitamin C?

When determining the need for ascorbic acid, we proceed from the fact that this substance is not synthesized in the human body. A person is completely dependent on the amount of vitamin C that he consumes from food.

The body's daily need for ascorbic acid can be determined in optimal and maximum values. Optimal indicators are the amount of a substance sufficient to fully perform its functions. Maximum values should be considered that determine the maximum permissible concentration of a substance.

Important!
The optimal daily concentration is within the range of 70-80 mg. The maximum or maximum permissible concentration is usually the amount of ascorbic acid in the range of 100-110 mg.

These values do not indicate the amount of vitamins taken per day, but their content in the body. This fact should be taken into account when consuming the vitamin, both with food and, especially, with artificial preparations.

The above concentrations of the substance are calculated for an adult healthy person. However, there are also indicators by age and condition.

Attention!
For children, optimal concentrations are determined differently than for adults.

children from 1 year to 3 years – 15 mg;
age range 3-8 years – 25 mg;
aged 8 to 12 years – 45 mg.

All values are given for people who do not have signs of vitamin deficiency. If signs of deficiency appear, single doses of ascorbic acid can be significantly increased. However, regular intake of vitamins should be carried out taking into account the maximum permissible concentrations.

Causes of hypervitaminosis

Is it possible to overdose on vitamins, can there be hypervitaminosis of ascorbic acid, and what to do in this case? These questions did not arise by chance. The fact is that ascorbic acid is easily excreted by the body.

Single doses exceeding permissible values may have no effect on the human body. This acid simply dilates blood vessels and stimulates the activation of kidney activity. As a result, excess vitamin is quickly eliminated from the body.

It is on this property that the use of a loading dose of this substance at the initial stage of influenza is based. The introduction of five cubes of ascorbic acid is the same loading dose that can already form an overdose. However, the therapeutic effect of this action consists of a short-term change in blood acidity, which is detrimental to viruses, activation of the body’s defenses, and subsequent rapid elimination of excess vitamin through the kidneys.

The use of loading doses of ascorbic acid several times in a row is unacceptable, since in this case the body may no longer cope with the self-cleaning process.

Is it possible to exceed the permissible concentration in conditions when a person is healthy, does not take excessive amounts of artificial vitamins, and eats healthy natural food? In this situation, an overdose is unlikely.

Typically, the causes of overdose are the following situations.

Taking medications with high concentrations of ascorbic acid. Usually people take drugs containing only ascorbic acid lightly.
The combination of taking vitamin preparations with food containing large amounts of ascorbic acid. Simultaneous consumption of large amounts of fruits, vegetables and herbs with vitamin complexes can create hypervitaminosis for a number of indicators, including ascorbic acid.
Taking medications containing ascorbic acid in high concentrations for several months without interruption.

Attention!
Thus, an overdose, dangerous to health, can occur, first of all, when taking drugs containing ascorbic acid in a pure and easily accessible form.

Symptoms of excess

Symptoms of vitamin C overdose are associated with excess and excess levels of this substance in adults and children.

The problem is that the manifestation of an overdose of ascorbic acid is difficult to distinguish from diseases that have similar symptoms. Most often, doctors can make a preliminary diagnosis of some infectious disease or pathology of the digestive system.

Most often, the following symptoms may appear during an overdose:

increased body temperature;
nausea and vomiting;
pressure surges;
dizziness;
overexcitation or, conversely, severe weakness;
spastic pain;
diarrhea;
heartburn;
the appearance of skin rashes.

Each of these symptoms, as well as all of them together, may indicate the emergence of a number of diseases. Most often, the preliminary diagnosis is associated with an intestinal infection.

The doctor may not know that the person caring for his health, consumed ascorbic acid in unacceptable doses.

In this case, he should compare his hobby with the appearance of symptoms.

If the cause of all the troubles is a really high concentration of ascorbic acid, a specialist will be able to prescribe adequate treatment.

At-risk groups

Attention!
The risk group primarily includes children. The younger the child, the less vitamins he needs. Parents often do not accept this fact, feeding their child fruits, vegetables and sweet pills containing pure ascorbic acid. When symptoms of a gastrointestinal disorder appear, parents often increase the amount of vitamins their child takes, which only worsens the situation.

In addition, small children put into their mouths everything that they find not only tasty, but also entertaining. There have been cases when a child ate an entire bottle of sweet and sour tablets within an hour. After this, severe poisoning occurred, which sometimes ended in death.
Another risk group consists of weakened, constantly ill people. Rightly believing that they need a lot of vitamins, they, without noticing it, take too high a dose of ascorbic acid.
The third risk group includes pregnant and lactating women. Their bodies, and most importantly, the bodies of young children, are very susceptible to any overdose.

Consequences of abuse

You need to know this!
Overdose is poisoning. Excessive concentration of ascorbic acid turns on all the body’s self-cleaning mechanisms. At the same time, many other very necessary substances are removed from it. By eliminating ascorbic acid, the body removes all other vitamins. So an overdose of vitamin C leads to a deficiency of all other vitamins.

Excessive indulgence in any food or medicinal drug can lead to allergies. In a situation with ascorbic acid, an allergy may appear to some fruits, vegetables or herbs. However, it is possible to develop allergies to pharmaceutical forms of vitamins. It means that a person runs the risk of falling into a chronic state of hypovitaminosis.

Note!
Particular care should be taken when combining ascorbic acid with aspirin, as well as with drugs that contain aluminum. Aspirin helps remove vitamin C from the body. Aluminum stimulates reverse processes, facilitating the absorption of ascorbic acid by the body.

Modern medicine has come to the conclusion that an overdose of ascorbic acid is associated with a number of diseases of a newly born child. In particular, abuse of this vitamin can lead to the development in a child of:

avitaminosis;
pathologies of the digestive system;
cleft lip;
heart defects.

Long-term overdose Doctors also associate it with the development of diabetes., especially in children.

What to do in case of overdose

If a connection is really found between the use of ascorbic acid and poor health, then emergency measures need to be taken. First, you should stop using medications with ascorbic acid. In this case, you need to take medications containing all other vitamins.

Vitamin C plays an important role in the body, participating in many life-support processes. It is necessary for the normal functioning of the blood supply system and helps strengthen the immune system. In women, this substance affects the nature of menstruation. It is taken for medicinal as well as preventive purposes to strengthen the body's resistance to adverse factors. However, like any other medicine, ascorbic acid should not be used uncontrollably. Significantly exceeding the dose of vitamin C can lead to poisoning.

The role of vitamin C is as follows:

Actively participates in the creation of immune cells necessary to suppress the harmful effects of viruses and bacteria.
It is an antioxidant and suppresses the action of free radicals. Acting as a catalyst for redox reactions, vitamin C protects cells from “overoxidation,” leading to their destruction and malignant degeneration.
It has a calming effect on the nervous system and improves brain function.
Improves vision.
Helps strengthen the walls of blood vessels, prevents bleeding gums and inflammation (scurvy).
By accelerating protein and fat metabolism, it supports skin and hair nutrition.
Increases resistance to various allergens.
Improves the absorption of iron and calcium, as well as the removal of harmful compounds of copper, lead and mercury from the body.
Prevents the deposition of cholesterol in blood vessels.

Vitamin C can increase blood clotting, so it is prescribed to women suffering from uterine bleeding.

The body's daily requirement for ascorbic acid

Ascorbic acid is highly soluble in water. Entering the body, it is partially consumed, satisfying the body’s needs, partially deposited in the tissues “in reserve”, the rest of the substance is excreted in the urine. Taking vitamin C incorrectly can lead to overdose and harmful consequences.

The body’s need for this substance depends on the woman’s age, the nature of the load, the presence or absence of bad habits, physiological state, and climate conditions.

The body's need for vitamin C (table)

When the need for vitamin C increases

Vitamin C is not produced in the body. Its supply must be constantly replenished. Daily consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits may well satisfy the daily need of a healthy person’s body for this substance, and even allows it to accumulate in a slight excess. At those moments when the load on the body increases, the consumption of ascorbic acid increases. Its intake from food is sometimes insufficient; additional intake of a synthetic drug in the form of pills, tablets or injections is required.

This happens in the following cases:

during and after illness, as well as during epidemics of viral diseases;
during intense physical and mental activity;
after poisoning with toxic substances;
when replenishing hypovitaminosis in the winter-spring period;
in unfavorable climate conditions;
during puberty, if a girl develops anemia due to the appearance of juvenile bleeding;
with uterine bleeding in adult women;
in old age, when the body’s absorption of beneficial elements of food deteriorates;
when using hormonal contraceptives that cause a decrease in the concentration of ascorbic acid in the blood;
during pregnancy and breastfeeding;
if you have bad habits (smokers and alcohol abusers have a complete lack of vitamin C).

Recommendation: It is necessary to eat in such a way that a sufficiently high dose of vitamin C is constantly maintained in the body throughout the day. It is useful to satisfy the daily requirement not at once, but in several doses, especially with the additional use of synthetic vitamin.

As a rule, taking the drug in increased doses is prescribed for colds, inflammatory and infectious diseases, and in treatment for cancer. The use of this substance (in combination with hormonal drugs) is recommended for women who experience delayed menstruation. The dose of vitamin C increases during pregnancy planning.

Contraindications and restrictions

The only contraindications to the use of synthetic vitamin C are the presence of an allergy to ascorbic acid.

For those patients in whom an overdose of vitamin C poses a particular danger, it is prescribed with caution, in individual doses, taking into account the possible side effects of the drugs. This category includes pregnant women, as well as people suffering from hypertension, diseases of the kidneys, digestive organs, liver, diabetes mellitus, vascular and blood diseases, and cataracts.

Consequences of hypervitaminosis

An overdose occurs when more than 1 g of vitamin C is systematically consumed. In this case, the excess substance does not have time to be eliminated from the body in the urine, and it accumulates in quantities significantly exceeding the required supply. Another factor contributing to oversaturation of the body is accidental consumption of it in a dose many times higher than the maximum permissible (2.5 mg/kg body weight).

An overdose of ascorbic acid leads to the development of allergies to it, changes in blood composition (destruction of leukocytes). One of the most dangerous consequences of poisoning is vascular thrombosis. Excessive consumption aggravates the course of neurological diseases, as well as rheumatism and heart disease.

An excess of vitamin C increases the acidity of the gastric environment, so it is not taken together with medications that irritate the mucous membranes (such as aspirin, indomethacin, reserpine). Acid taken in excess can cause exacerbation of gastritis, stomach or pancreatic ulcers.

This substance increases the acidity of urine. Its overdose accelerates the formation of stones in the kidneys and ureters. Ascorbic acid, which enters the body in excess, can destroy vitamin B12. In turn, the lack of this substance in the body leads to anemia and neurological disorders (headaches, insomnia).

Vitamin C, which enters the body in large doses, interferes with the production of insulin, so taking it in excess is unacceptable for diabetes mellitus.

Warning: An overdose of vitamin C is undesirable for those who drive vehicles or perform work that requires precise manipulations, since an excess of it in the body reduces visual acuity and impairs coordination of movements.

Overdose symptoms

Due to poisoning due to an overdose of ascorbic acid, as well as irritation of the digestive tract and the appearance of anemia, the following symptoms occur:

weakness;
nausea, vomiting, dizziness;
heartburn, abdominal pain, indigestion;
allergic skin rash;
headache;
blurred vision;
rapid onset of muscle fatigue;
increased irritability;
insomnia;
frequent urination;
decrease in blood sugar concentration.

Video: The role of vitamin C during pregnancy

Consequences of vitamin overdose during pregnancy

During this period, vitamin C is necessary for normal metabolism, weakening the manifestations of early toxicosis in a pregnant woman, protecting teeth from destruction, maintaining normal blood composition, and preventing bleeding during childbirth. If a woman did not have hypovitaminosis before pregnancy, then the body’s need for ascorbic acid can be satisfied by eating foods of natural origin (for example, 2 oranges per day).

Synthetic vitamin preparations during pregnancy can only be taken as prescribed by a doctor, since even a small excess of ascorbic acid can lead to impaired fetal development. Activation of enzyme production and excessive acceleration of metabolism in the body contribute to the development of vitamin deficiency in the mother and fetus. After birth, the baby develops a disease called “rebound scurvy.”

The use of increased doses of vitamin C by a pregnant woman leads to an addictive effect in the newborn. His body will feel a lack of this substance, which will cause developmental delays.

Taking ascorbic acid in increased quantities provokes miscarriage (in particular, the folk method of terminating an unwanted pregnancy is based on this).

Video: Consequences and prevention of ascorbic acid overdose

Reasons for exceeding the norm

An overdose of vitamin C in the body is possible when, for example, it is used in high doses to prevent colds and viral diseases. Some people mistakenly believe that the more they take, the less likely they are to get sick.

The reason for exceeding the norm is the increased intake of pills simultaneously with the consumption of foods rich in this substance. In some cases, an overdose occurs due to non-compliance with the doctor’s recommendations on the use of a synthetic vitamin preparation for medicinal purposes.

Oversaturation is especially common among those who consume the vitamin in the form of “harmless” dragees that taste like candy.

How to deal with overdose symptoms

To avoid overdose, the following rules must be followed:

Do not use synthetic drugs if your diet contains enough plant foods, especially raw vegetables, herbs, and fruits (this vitamin is also found in animal by-products, but since they are boiled or fried, the vitamin in them is almost completely destroyed).
Do not use vitamin C uncontrollably, “just in case.”
Remember that to meet the needs of an adult’s body, it is enough to take 1 vitamin C tablet per day. When using it in other forms, you must follow the doses indicated in the instructions.

If symptoms of overdose appear, first of all, it is necessary to stop taking the synthetic drug and limit the consumption of foods containing it in large quantities (such as spinach, tomatoes, citrus fruits, salad greens, green peas, black currants), as well as freshly squeezed juices , rosehip infusion. Food must be high in calories in order to increase the consumption of ascorbic acid for its processing.

It is necessary to drink a lot of water to stimulate the excretion of this substance in the urine. If your health deteriorates significantly after taking a large dose of the vitamin, you must immediately induce vomiting and perform a gastric lavage, as well as take adsorbents such as activated carbon or smecta.

Today, many people take vitamins, but this does not always happen under doctor’s supervision. Most often, people take vitamin C, which is also known as ascorbic acid. It is used by everyone - from children to the elderly.

Not many people know that if you take vitamins uncontrollably, and even exceed the recommended dosage, an overdose can occur. After all, vitamins are the same medications as other pharmaceutical products.

They can disrupt the body's activities. When can you get poisoned with vitamin C? What symptoms appear in case of overdose and who should be careful about consuming ascorbic acid and what is the danger of poisoning with this vitamin?

First, let's try to figure out how vitamin C affects metabolic processes in the human body.

Few people at school have not heard that with vitamin deficiency a condition such as scurvy can develop.

Vitamin C: role, sources, daily intake

If ascorbic acid is absent from the body for a long time, then this condition cannot be avoided.

Of course, vitamin C is important for metabolic processes in the body, and a deficiency of this substance causes complex disorders. The human body cannot synthesize the vitamin in question, and it must come from outside.

Functions performed by ascorbic acid

Takes part in redox processes at the intracellular level;
Responsible for regulating carbohydrate metabolism;
Ensures normal capillary permeability;
Takes part in the metabolism of vitamins E, A and A;
Improves blood clotting;
Affects the strengthening of dental dentin and bone tissue;
Improves the condition of the immune system;
Provides synthesis of procollagen and collagen;
Provides the production of steroid hormones.

The body also needs ascorbic acid so that it can more easily cope with stressful situations. This is a natural antioxidant substance that ensures accelerated wound healing and restores the body's defenses.

Vitamin C is an excellent preventative against the occurrence of inflammatory diseases and helps slow down the aging process.

But if you use the product incorrectly, it can harm your health and you can become poisoned by this substance.

Harm of vitamin C

If you use vitamin C correctly, there will be no side effects. But you need to know that there are people who should be extremely careful when using this substance.

The following groups of people are prone to an overdose of ascorbic acid:

Persons to whom a doctor has recommended a salt diet;
Persons who have diabetes;
Persons who have kidney problems;
Those with high blood pressure;
Persons who have cataracts;
Pregnant women;
Persons who are prone to thrombosis.

In people who smoke and abuse alcoholic beverages, on the contrary, the need for vitamin C increases. They do not have the necessary supply of vitamin C in their bodies, since it tends to be destroyed under the influence of nicotine and alcohol.

Dosage of ascorbic acid

The body should not receive more than 90 mg of vitamin C per day.

If a person’s diet contains a large amount of foods rich in vitamin C, then when consuming vitamin preparations, the dose should be reduced so that an overdose does not develop.

Products rich in ascorbic acid:

Tomatoes;
Parsley;
Oranges, lemons and other citrus fruits;
Sweet paprika;
Broccoli;
Black currant;
Spinach.

If you eat 1 orange a day, then the daily requirement of the vitamin in question will be fully provided.

Overdose

If you consume more than 1 g of vitamin C per day, you will experience an overdose. A small excess of this component can be excreted through the kidneys from the body, and there will be absolutely no harm.

What causes an overdose:

Constant abuse of ascorbic acid in spring and autumn;
Simultaneous consumption of large amounts of vitamin C and foods where this component is present in large quantities;
Accidental consumption of an increased dose (for example, by children).

Symptoms of ascorbic acid overdose

When vitamin C enters the body in increased quantities, the following symptoms appear:

A person becomes weak, he has no strength;
Your stomach starts to hurt;
Feeling dizzy;
Diarrhea occurs;
The poisoned person begins to vomit and feel sick;
The head begins to hurt severely;
Allergic reactions appear on the skin - redness, rash.
Heartburn occurs.

An overdose of vitamin C in children may be accompanied by increased excitability of the nervous system, itching and skin rashes.

Consequences of an overdose of ascorbic acid

If the overdose is prolonged, this can provoke the development of quite serious consequences:

Kidney disease may occur;
There is a disruption of the pancreas;
Gastric ulcers and gastritis develop;
B vitamins are present in the body in insufficient quantities;
Blood clotting is impaired;
Blood pressure rises;
Representatives of the fairer sex may experience disruptions to their menstrual cycle;
The number of leukocytes in the bloodstream decreases;
A persistent allergy to vitamin C develops.

Overdose of ascorbic acid during pregnancy

During pregnancy, an overdose of this component is quite dangerous; it can provoke metabolic disorders in the child. This may also be the reason for the development of a condition such as rebound scurvy in children. If the overdose is very strong, it can cause a miscarriage.

Symptoms of overdose in pregnant women:

Severe vomiting occurs;
The state of health deteriorates sharply, the woman feels weak;
Stomach cramps occur.

In addition, the absorption of B vitamins deteriorates.

How to help with a vitamin C overdose

Vitamin C is a highly water-soluble vitamin. For this reason, if an overdose is suspected, you should ensure that you drink plenty of water. Well, of course, stop taking ascorbic acid.

If a person has consumed a lot of vitamin C at one time - more than 20 g, then he urgently needs to rinse the stomach and induce vomiting. Next, use activated carbon and then continue to drink plenty of water. This is necessary to increase urination.

conclusions

Ascorbic acid is a very useful substance that helps cope with colds and infectious diseases. This is an essential vitamin for people who drink alcohol and smoke.

But if this drug is used uncontrollably and constantly increases the recommended dosage, then this can significantly harm the body.

It is prohibited to consume more than 60 mg of vitamin C per day. Also, ascorbic acid intoxication can occur if you take more than 20 g at a time.

In case of poisoning, the following symptoms appear: dizziness, abdominal pain, loss of strength, vomiting, nausea. If you exceed the dose for a long time, disturbances in the functioning of the pancreas and kidneys will occur.

Persons suffering from diabetes mellitus, with impaired kidney function, as well as pregnant women should be especially careful when taking vitamin C.

Vitamin C is essential for the proper functioning of the body. In reasonable doses, it strengthens the body, but an overdose of vitamin C has unpleasant consequences.

Vitamin C is essential for proper functioning of the body

Vitamin C - what is it?

Another name is ascorbic acid. It is an organic compound similar to glucose. According to its physical and chemical properties, the acid has the form of a white powder with a sour taste and is highly soluble in water. Vitamin C has the following properties:

antioxidant;
is a reducing agent in metabolic processes;
stimulates the immune system;
accelerates the body's recovery after infectious diseases;
indispensable for the vascular system;
promotes rapid absorption of iron in the body;
important for the restoration and growth of body cells;
strengthens gums, bones, teeth;
normalizes capillary permeability;
removes toxic substances;
regulates carbohydrate metabolism;
affects the functioning of the thyroid and pancreas.

Products that contain ascorbic acid: citrus fruits, tomatoes, rose hips, sea buckthorn, kiwi, onions, potatoes, liver, cabbage, broccoli, lettuce and others. For people suffering from diabetes, consumption has unpleasant consequences. Fruits and vegetables should be eaten immediately after cutting. Prolonged exposure to fresh air, heat treatment and freezing lead to the destruction of the vitamin. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) brings not only benefits, but also harm if the permissible dosage is exceeded.

Healthy foods containing vitamin C

Negative effects on the body

The vitamin itself is safe for the body. But exceeding the dose can cause an allergic reaction and a number of other consequences. We get most of the vitamin from eating sour berries and fruits, so consuming them on a hungry and empty stomach threatens to worsen gastric diseases, gastritis and gastric ulcers. It is not recommended for use by people with high acidity of gastric juice.

The use of tablet forms of drugs causes an allergic reaction and irritation of the stomach lining. For people suffering from thrombophlebitis, whose blood is thick, an excess of vitamin can cause more thickening of the blood. Vitamin hypervitaminosis promotes the formation of oxalic acid in the body, which leads to the appearance of kidney stones.

An increased content of ascorbic acid in the summer threatens the occurrence of anemia. Red blood cells are destroyed by ultraviolet rays.

Exceeding the dose of a substance

Unfortunately, a person perceives the drug as ordinary candy. Their uncontrolled use has unpleasant consequences.

Signs of Vitamin C Overdose

The daily dose of the vitamin is up to 90 mg in adults, up to 30 mg in children. Newborns who are breastfed do not require additional vitamin intake, since the child receives the required amount from the mother. Smokers need to increase the dose by 30-40 mg daily. During physical activity, ascorbic acid consumption also increases by 30-40 mg per day.

The maximum daily dose should not exceed 2 grams. Since ascorbic acid is not a very stable compound, it is quickly destroyed and excreted from the body in the urine. But long-term use of more than 1-2 grams causes negative consequences.

An overdose of vitamin C is characterized by the following symptoms:

vomit;
nausea;
severe heartburn;
dizziness;
increased fatigue, tiredness;
women's menstrual cycle is disrupted;
allergic reactions on the skin, itching, redness, rashes;
insomnia;
the appearance of renal colic and cystitis as a result of irritation of the mucous membrane of the urinary tract;
development or exacerbation of peptic ulcer;
increased sugar in the blood and urine, as insulin production in the pancreas decreases;
due to increased sugar, dry mouth occurs, a constant feeling of thirst, dry skin and mucous membranes;
An overdose of vitamins makes the blood even thicker.

The lethal dose of vitamin C is 20-30 grams.

Signs of hypervitaminosis with excess vitamin C

First aid for overdose

If symptoms of poisoning appear, you must immediately stop taking the vitamin and increase your water intake. Next, call an ambulance or consult with your doctor. If a large dose of the drug is consumed, the patient must induce vomiting in order to cleanse the body and rinse the stomach. The use of adsorbing agents such as activated carbon, smecta, and filtrum is recommended. Further treatment is carried out depending on the developed disorders in the body.

Consequences of overdosing

The harm of vitamin C if used incorrectly is very great. Ascorbic acid is involved in the formation of hemoglobin and is excreted through the kidneys. Therefore, the consequences of uncontrolled use may be as follows:

impaired renal and pancreatic function;
increased blood pressure;
cardiovascular system disorders;
blood clotting disorder;
risk of blood clots;
occurrence of miscarriage;
disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system;
increased production of estrogen hormones, in which the use of contraceptives may be ineffective;
allergic reactions (itching, redness, irritation).

Vitamin C can cause poisoning

In childhood and adolescence, exceeding the dose negatively affects the activity of the nervous system. To prevent this pathology, it is necessary to limit the consumption of both medications and products containing vitamin C. For example, if you have given or continue to give an infusion of rose hips and black currant berries, additional consumption of ascorbic acid is prohibited.

Prevention of poisoning

To prevent poisoning of the body, before using the drug, you must read the instructions not to exceed the recommended dose. It is better to prevent flu and colds in the fall or winter; in the spring, vitamin intake can be increased. In summer, it is better to eat natural foods rich in vitamins and minerals necessary for the proper functioning of the body.

Before using any medications and vitamins, you should consult your doctor to avoid unwanted consequences.

Video

What happens if you consume a large amount of vitamin C? You will find the answer to this question in the next video.

Vitamin C or ascorbic acid is an essential component for the full functioning of the body. It is taken by both adults and children, as it normalizes carbohydrate metabolism, enhances collagen production, and improves immunity. However, there are times when an overdose of vitamin C occurs, which causes certain consequences.

What is a vitamin C overdose?

The permissible daily dose of vitamin C for a healthy person is 1 gram. In other situations, the daily dose is adjusted by a specialist, taking into account all the individual characteristics of the body. Vitamin C overdose is exceeding the recommended daily dose of ascorbic acid. But an overdose of vitamin C can also occur with a single dose of this substance, if you exceed the norm by 20-30 times.

If the norm was violated in small quantities, for example, up to 2 grams, as a rule, this does not have serious consequences - all excess vitamin C is eliminated without difficulty through the kidneys.

Why does vitamin C overdose happen?

There are three factors that can lead to an overdose of vitamin C:

If you accidentally take a large dose of ascorbic acid. This most often happens to children, especially if ascorbic acid is taken in the form of small yellow tablets, which the child identifies as candy. The bottle of ascorbic acid should be kept out of the reach of children, and the intake of vitamin C should be monitored by giving the dose to the child with your own hands.
If you simultaneously take special preparations, the main component of which is ascorbic acid, and foods that are rich in vitamin C, as you know, these are citrus fruits.
Abuse of vitamin C in the spring and autumn. The fact is that in trying to strengthen their immunity, people sometimes think that the more vitamin C, the better, making a global mistake. Vitamin C must be supplied to the body in certain doses, otherwise its effect will simply not be effective.

The most common cases are when an overdose of vitamin C occurs chronically, without obvious symptoms and signs. But the human body is designed in such a way that any failure in its work will certainly affect the person’s well-being.

Who is vulnerable to vitamin C overdose?

There is a group of people who need special control when consuming ascorbic acid. The fact is that they are more susceptible to an overdose of vitamin C than others. These are people such as:

patients with impaired kidney function;
diabetics;
people who adhere to a salt diet for health reasons;
people suffering from hypertension;
patients with a tendency to thrombosis.

An overdose of vitamin C has a number of common symptoms that manifest themselves as general disturbances in the functioning of the body. In other words, there is no specific symptom that would indicate this particular problem.

Typically, symptoms of a vitamin C overdose include:

general weakness occurs in the body;
I have a stomachache;
constant or periodic diarrhea (see also:);
skin irritation;
Availability ;
constant severe form;
nausea (see also);
vomit;
Possible interruptions in sleep (or vice versa constant).

In case of an overdose of ascorbic acid in children, causeless attacks of aggression may occur, they become very nervous and excitable, and allergies and blisters on the skin may appear.

Consequences of an overdose of vitamin C

If you do not recognize an overdose of vitamin C in time and allow it to become chronic, the consequences may be as follows:

impaired activity of the pancreas;
development of kidney diseases;
stomach ulcers and gastritis;
chronic allergy to vitamin C;
possible disruption of the menstrual cycle in women;
blood pressure increases;
blood does not clot well.

Children may also have such consequences - the development of diabetes mellitus, deterioration in the functioning of all organs.

Among other things, an excess of vitamin C can lead to other beneficial substances being washed out of the body, which will lead to a deficiency of microelements and beneficial vitamins.

Vitamin C overdose during pregnancy

During pregnancy, an overdose of ascorbic acid is 2 times more dangerous, since it affects not only the health of the mother, but also the health of the unborn baby.

The following signs can help you recognize an excess of vitamin C during pregnancy:

frequent vomiting;
abdominal cramps;
bad feeling. To the point of complete powerlessness and inability to get out of bed.

In addition to these symptoms, pregnant women with an overdose of vitamin C may have poor absorption of B vitamins, especially selenium, copper and vitamin B12.

An excess of vitamin C in the mother’s body causes a disruption in the fetus’s metabolism, which ultimately affects the child’s health after delivery. Excessive use of vitamin C can cause miscarriage.

What to do if you overdose on vitamin C?

In case of chronic overdose of vitamin C, you need to drink as much clean water as possible. The fact is that it easily dissolves in water, and therefore can be easily eliminated through the kidneys.

But, an overdose of vitamin C can be not only chronic, but also one-time, as already noted. If the body has received a dose of ascorbic acid that exceeds the recommended daily dose by 20 or more times, then it is necessary to prevent this dose from being absorbed. And this is only possible if you immediately take the following steps:

Clear your stomach. To do this, you need to induce vomiting using two fingers, and also remember to drink a lot of water. Firstly, this will help prevent dehydration, and secondly, in this way the stomach is also washed.
After cleansing the stomach, be sure to drink activated carbon or any other drug that is also an adsorbent.

If you happen to overuse vitamin C, you should stop consuming vitamin C, as well as those foods that contain it.

How to avoid excess ascorbic acid in the body

Despite the fact that the recommended daily dose of the drug is 1 gram, it is better to play it safe and not take vitamin C in an amount that exceeds 60 milligrams. At the same time, in order to prevent an overdose, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the daily norm, which depends on the person’s age and gender:

Infants up to six months should be given no more than 40 milligrams of vitamin C per day.
At the age of 7 months to a year, the norm increases to 50 milligrams.
Children aged 1 to 3 years should not consume more than 15 milligrams per day.
From 4 years to 8 years, the daily dose of vitamin C will be no more than 25 milligrams.
At the age of 9 to 13 years, the norm is 45 milligrams per day.
Teenagers (14 to 18 years old) are recommended to take vitamin C in amounts not exceeding 65 milligrams (for girls) and 75 milligrams (for boys).
Men 19 years of age and older can afford 90 milligrams per day, and women in the same age category can afford 75 milligrams.

A person who smokes not only can, but also needs to exceed the daily dose of vitamin C by 35 milligrams per day. Also, pregnant women can deviate from the recommended norm, but not by more than 10 milligrams, as well as women who are breastfeeding - by 30 milligrams per day.

If you strictly follow the instructions on how to take vitamin C, of course, it will only benefit the body. But, if an overdose or poisoning occurs, then measures must be taken immediately to remove vitamin C from the body. If relief does not occur after such measures, you need to seek help from a doctor, get tested, undergo an examination and make adjustments to your diet.