Vitamin c side effects

Lack of sufficient vitamin c in the body often result in scurvy disease which occurs in the human blood. And apart form been present in the normal balance diet, it comes in various supplements and is most often used by many to make up for that which is not obtained from food. But then it is vital that utmost care be taken so that the intake of these vitamin c supplement is not excess which could lead to the vitamin c side effects.

Some of the vitamin c side effects

1. Indigestion or stomach problems:- Excessive in take of vitamin c, particularly without having taking any meal bring about stomach upset and lack of proper digestion. Vitamin c are better taken during or after meal. However, in case of such occurrence, the condition can be tackled the excess ascorbic acid is to take an antacid such as baking soda.
2. Excessive vitamin c and also result in nose bleeding in some people.
3. It also leads to diarrhea and this is a common occurrence in virtually every one. But it depends on the amount of intake an individual can bear. However, this side effect is not harmful as the diarrhea ceases as vitamin c intake is stopped or reduced.

Effects of overdose

The toxicity in vitamin c is considerably very low and has a far less chance of killing a person. Report shows that the LD 50 amount 11900 mg in the rat. For vitamin c to have at most 50% chance of killing a human being, 833, 000 mg of it must have to be taking in. in the real sense of it, ingestion of the ascorbic acid orally can not lead to death since if taken in large quantity, it could result in diarrhea. To stand any chance of killing a person, an over whelming large amount of vitamin c must have been taken in rapid succession. Vitamin c is actually very less poisonous. Up to 2 grams of the ascorbic acid can be ingested reported the council for responsible nutrition. The organization also reported that the effect associated with overdose of vitamin c. over thee years are very minor and not quite significant.

Alleged harmful effects

The issue of to what extent is the harmful effect of vitamin c has over time been a debatable issue over various media around the world. There were several reports on the harmful effects of vitamin c, which was later disapproved by subsequent studies and report. They include the following.
The journal nature, in April 1998 allegedly reported that over dose of the ascorbic acid result in carcinogenic and teratogenic effects.

Experiments, carried out reveals that damage to the DNA is just two out of 20. no other living organism has produce any further evidence.

The same group that report the above on the journal Nature took their stance and states that their outcome "show a definite increase in 8 oxoademine after supp[lamentation with vitamin c. this lesion is at least ten times less mutagenic than 8-oxoguamine, and hence our study shows an overall profound protective effect of this vitamins.

A thickening of the arteries of the neck as a result of large amount of vitamin c. ingestion is reported by researchers form the university of Southern California (Apoil 2000) to occur in persons. But this is explained by vitamin c experts that it is just a mere process of the acids' collagen synthesis which brings about thickening of the walls of the artery.

Researchers form the rake University (June 2004) reported increased occurrence of osteo-arthritis in guinea pigs after ingestion of food with large amount of vitamin c. but researchers from umea University in Sweden discovered that "plasma levels of vitamin c, retinol and uric were inversely correlated to variables related to rheumatoid arthritis disease activity."

Also, large ingestion of ascorbic acid is prone to occurrence of kidney stones. This is because of the presence of substance like oxalic acid which is a product of dehydroascorbic acid after been metabolized. These chemicals are known to constitute kidney stones. But then, there is still on strong evidence to the authenticity of this assertion. It is still highly controversial.

But the presence of vitamin B6 may reduce the risk of kidney stone since it reduces the production of exalic acid. The presence of other chemicals like magnesium, thamine reduces the production of oxalic acid, thereby reducing the risk of developing kidney stones. Even the intesturial flora regulates the amount of vitamin c to be metabolized to oxalic acid.

The articles on this website should not be used as a basis for any form of diagnosis or treatment for any medical condition. Always seek professional medical advice.