(That’s42% of the U.S. adult population2!)

Vitamin C sources: diet and supplementation.

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vitamin C potency+

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Potential short-term side effects.

Emily Kelleher

We consulted the experts to get the lowdown on what to expect.

Stomach discomfort.

Other digestive phenomena.

Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN

But even then, Michels reassures that “For many people, these side effects are mild and transient.

Each body is different, and there’s no dose that is definitively linked to side effects for everyone.

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That’s not how nutrition and our individual genetic makeup work.

Johnson also notes that GI concerns typically resolve once the vitamin C has been properly absorbed into the system.

Another buzzworthy benefit of vitamin C isbrighter, more youthful-looking skin.

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But the skin benefits don’t stop there.

Topical approaches can go hand in hand (literally).

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Supports joint health.

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Aids in iron absorption.

Luckily, vitamin C can enhance the absorption of nonheme iron,seriously increasing its bioavailability, Johnson explains.

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Dosing: How much vitamin C is too much?

However, those baseline starting levels are debated.

Vitamin C interactions.

Additionally, people with certain health concerns should take extra care with higher-dose vitamin C supplements.

The takeaway.

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Because vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, any excess is flushed out with urine.

And while side effects may occur at very high doses, they’re likely to be mild.

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14 Sources