Britt Jones
Vitamin C is among the most common supplements people opt for to prop up their daily intake, but if it's not done right, it can cause some unpleasant side effects.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin, which means that it dissolves in water. This can cause some issues, though, as the body isn't able to produce it or store it for later.
As it helps to repair tissues in all parts of your body, and takes care of things like collagen production, heals wounds, repairs cartilage, bones and teeth, and also aids in the absorption of iron, not to mention contributing to a normal immune system, you could say it’s needed in daily life.
But it can backfire on you, too.
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Unfortunately, this comes in the form of diarrhea.
When this happens, it is known as osmotic diarrhea, which tends to happen when we eat things that mess with our insides.
Per Healthline, this type of diarrhea happens when the body has too much of something that stops water from being absorbed, leading to symptoms like bloating, nausea, and stomach pain.
It can even mean the person is likely to become dehydrated.
You can’t absorb all of the vitamin C, but can only urinate it out if you take too much of it, or if it builds up and isn’t being released properly, you can get into serious trouble with your health.
You can even have blood and pus in your bowels or run a fever.
Usually, adults are recommended to consume 40 milligrams (mg) per day. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding will need more than this.
But usually, you should be able to get what you need through diet alone.
If you do end up consuming too much of the vitamin, the NHS states symptoms should stop once you cease taking the supplement.
Plus, you’d need to have a lot in your system for it to produce negative effects.
The health service even notes that ‘taking less than 1,000mg of vitamin C supplements a day is unlikely to cause any harm’.
But just be careful whenever you take supplements or medication to ensure you’re getting the right dosage you need to be healthy.
If you have any of the above symptoms, however, contact your GP or hospital as soon as possible.