Thursday 2 April 2009

Vitamin C Overdose

"Excess of anything is bad." This includes Vitamin C. Nowadays, vitamin pills are recommended for a supplement by many media and doctors office, TV ad, print ad, eadio, magazine edvertorials... However, overdose of Vitamin C beyond recommended limits may cause lots of problem.

What Will Happen if Vitamin C Overdose?
Overdose of Vitamin C beyond recommended limits may cause stomachaches and diarrhea. Even though the body would only use as much as it needs of the vitamin, it can hinder metabolic activities in the body. More seriously, it can reduce the bodies level of copper, an essential nutrient. If a person already has an iron abundance disorder, even small doses of Vitamin C can cause severe health risks as Vitamin C increases iron absorption into the system. In Pregnant women it can actually cause infants to develop rebound scurvy when born. Elder people also need to be very cautious with the amount of Vitamin C they take, as they are more prone to develop a toxicity level in the kidneys, resulting in very serious medical issues. The same results of interference with functioning of certain medications are true with patients who have diabetes or high blood pressure. There is also research linking Vitamin C overdoes over long periods of time that will lend a patient to be at a higher risk for cancer.

How Much Vitamin C Can We Take per Day?
The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for Vitamin C in nonsmoking adults is 75 mg per day for women and 90 mg per day for men. For smokers, the RDAs are 110 mg per day for women and 125 mg per day for men. Anything over 200 mg is more than enough to maximize the levels of plasma and lymphocytes.

There are times when a body does require additional amounts of Vitamin C. For example, if you are under any type of environmental stress such as a trauma, fever, or any kind of infection. Anything over 500 mg, even with any of the above mentioned environmental factors, will reach any person's maximum saturation rate. Vitamin C is a water - soluble protein and in normal conditions, anything in excess is excreted by the body. When it is not excreted it will cause diarrhea, gas, and stomach cramps at the very least. Other effects can be severe cramps, nausea, and risks for kidney stones.

When Do I Take More Vitamin C?
Higher levels of Vitamin C are needed when under environmental stress such as trauma, fever or infection. Full saturation is reached with daily intakes of 200-500 mg per day (in 2-3 divided doses). This is a water-soluble protein, and anything in excess is excreted by the body. Vitamin C Overdose can cause diarrhea, gas, or stomach upset. Other side effects could be stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhea, and an increased risk of developing kidney stones. Large amounts of Vitamin C reduce body levels of copper, an essential nutrient. People with iron overload diseases must avoid Vitamin C Overdose, as it increases iron absorption. Special medical advice must be taken by individuals who have kidney stones. If a pregnant mother takes 6,000 mg of Vitamin C, the baby may develop rebound scurvy due to a sudden drop in daily intake. Hemochromatosis patients should not take Vitamin C due to enhanced accumulation of non-heme iron in the presence of this vitamin.

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