Excessive intake of vitamin C has consequences. Vitamin C - rules for taking, overdose symptoms, treatment. Why does an overdose happen?
Takes various vitamins most of people, but often this happens without the supervision of a doctor. The most popular drug for all cases among the population is vitamin C, or ascorbic acid. To strengthen immune system it is prescribed for children, but the adult population also takes with great pleasure yellowish dragees of a pleasant taste. It is believed that an overdose of vitamin C can have absolutely no health consequences, but this is not at all the case.
Useful properties of vitamin C
Ascorbic acid is responsible for the following functions in the body:
- regulates carbohydrate metabolism;
- promotes redox intracellular processes;
- improves the permeability of blood capillaries and strengthens their walls;
- involved in the production of steroid hormones;
- regulates the production of collagen and its analogues;
- strengthens and restores the immune system;
- helps to strengthen bones and teeth;
- participates in the regulation of blood clotting;
- promotes the absorption of vitamins A, B, E.
Ascorbic acid helps a person deal with stressful situations.
This vitamin is a natural oxidant, therefore, increases the body's capabilities, helps heal wounds of any etiology, prevents inflammatory diseases and slows down the aging process.
Caution when using vitamin C
If vitamin C is used strictly in the dosage prescribed by the doctor, then side effects almost excluded. However, it is worth remembering that there are groups of people who need to prescribe this drug with great caution and calculate the dosage individually. The consequences of an overdose of ascorbic acid can be in such cases:
- with any violations of the urinary tract;
- in patients with diabetes mellitus of all types;
- in people who need a salt diet;
- during pregnancy at all stages;
- with chronic hypertension;
- with thrombosis.
Those people who smoke or drink alcoholic beverages need a high dose of this vitamin. The constant supply of ascorbic acid in the body of a healthy person is about two grams, and the vitamin supply of smokers and drinkers is almost completely absent.
Daily dosage of ascorbic acid
The daily dose of ascorbic acid in order to prevent beriberi is: adults - 30-50 mg, children - 20-30 mg.
The maximum daily dosage of vitamin C for adults is 90 mg.
When taking vitamin preparations, you should also take into account foods that are rich in ascorbic acid. If necessary, the dose is adjusted so that an overdose of vitamin C does not result. Foods that are rich in ascorbic acid include:
- Greens - parsley, spinach, dill, green onion, rhubarb;
- Cabbage - white, cauliflower, broccoli;
- All citrus fruits;
- Sea buckthorn;
- Black currant;
- tomatoes;
- Rose hip.
So, eating 100 grams of sauerkraut or fresh cabbage, one orange or a few tablespoons of sea buckthorn and currant jam completely covers the daily need for ascorbic acid. If the products from the list are constantly present in the diet, then vitamin preparations can not be taken.
A lethal dose of vitamin C is a tenfold increase in therapeutic dosage.
Ascorbic acid for colds: how it helps and how much to drink
As studies have shown, for colds and infectious diseases, taking a large number vitamin C helps to reduce the duration of the disease and alleviate its symptoms. That is why doctors recommend drinking ascorbic acid for colds. Vitamin C creates an acidic environment in the body, unfavorable for the reproduction of viruses.. During the period of the disease, you can double the recommended daily dose, while the maximum shock dose of vitamin C for colds is 1 g, which should be taken only in agreement with the attending physician and under his control.
ascorbic acid in synthetic form it is advisable to use evenly throughout the day 3-4 times during meals.
It is important to carefully look at the content of vitamin C in tablets or tablets of ascorbic acid with glucose before use, it can vary from 50 mg to 100 mg in one tablet (drag). When taking vitamin complexes, this should also be taken into account. With prolonged use of high doses of the drug, hypervitaminosis C is possible.
What is the danger of an excess of vitamin C
For a healthy person, a slight excess of the daily dose will not do much harm - the excess will simply be excreted in the urine through the kidneys. But if you take at least 1 g of ascorbic acid daily or accidentally drink a dose 20-30 times higher than the daily dose, negative consequences for the body cannot be avoided.
For some categories of people, even a minimal excess threatens not only health, but also life. With great care, under the strict supervision of a doctor, people should take vitamin C when:
- tendency to thrombosis or thrombophlebitis;
- diabetes mellitus;
- cataract;
- renal failure;
- existing kidney stones or gallbladder;
- hypertension.
Excessive intake of ascorbic acid in the body with these diseases can adversely affect health.
An excess of vitamin C is manifested by the following symptoms:
- constant dizziness;
- digestive disorders (diarrhea, vomiting, flatulence);
- weakness;
- heartburn;
- throbbing headache;
- skin rashes.
In children, an overdose is expressed in increased nervous excitability and aggression, severe itching.
Sometimes excessive intake of vitamin C in the body leads to its abnormal elimination (accelerated excretion from the body), which leads to beriberi. The more you take ascorbic acid, the less it will be absorbed, it is almost immediately excreted. Then symptoms of beriberi C are possible against the background of an overabundance:
- general lethargy and depression;
- deterioration of the skin and hair;
- bleeding gums;
- pain in the joints;
- swelling and bruising under the eyes;
- prolonged healing of wounds;
- frequent colds.
During pregnancy, an excess of ascorbic acid leads to violations of the intrauterine development of the child, after birth, such children may develop dependence and be observed from the first days of life signs of beriberi.
When can there be an overdose and how to avoid it
An overdose of ascorbic acid can be only in a few cases: 
- with uncontrolled drug intake. Most often this happens with children who swallow attractive dragees in large quantities;
- if vitamin complexes and a large number of products containing vitamin C are taken at the same time;
- abuse of vitamins in autumn winter period.
Quite often there is a chronic overdose, but its symptoms are mild.
To prevent cases of overdose, it is necessary to store vitamins in a place inaccessible to children, as well as to think over the menu. In the autumn-winter period, fresh vegetables and fruits should be on the table.
Before you start taking vitamin complexes, you should always consult a doctor!
Signs of an overdose of ascorbic acid
Symptoms with an excess of ascorbic acid in adults are manifested by such changes in health status: 
- dizziness;
- general weakness;
- pain in the gastrointestinal tract;
- indigestion;
- heartburn;
- rashes on the skin;
- nausea;
- strong vomiting.
With an overabundance in children different ages may be observed severe anxiety, unreasonable aggression, itching and a small rash on the skin, mainly on the folds of the joints and on the abdomen.
Consequences of hypervitaminosis
With significant hypervitaminosis, serious health problems arise. They can be expressed in the following states:
- Malfunctions of the pancreas, which can lead to pancreatitis or diabetes.
- Diseases of the urinary tract.
- Chronic gastritis or stomach ulcer.
- Violation of the absorption of vitamins from group B, which leads to problems with the nervous system.
- Developing a severe allergy to vitamin C.
- A persistent decrease in the number of leukocytes in the blood.
- In women of childbearing age, gynecological problems.
- Hypertension.
- Blood clotting disorder.
An excess of ascorbic acid in a pregnant woman can affect the development of the unborn child.
In some cases, excessive consumption of ascorbic acid by a pregnant woman threatens with a miscarriage.
Hypervitaminosis in pregnant women is manifested by such conditions: 
- Pain in the stomach.
- General deterioration in health.
- Vomit.
Same stop absorbing vitamin B12, selenium and copper which greatly affects the course of pregnancy. Women in position should not abuse vitamin preparations, as their excess leads to fetal diseases.
What can be done in case of overdose
ascorbic acid completely dissolves in water and therefore is well excreted from the body by the kidneys. If there is a suspicion of an overdose, then immediately cancel vitamin preparations and give a lot pure water. In the case of a single use of a large amount of ascorbic acid - more than 20 grams, the person is immediately washed out the stomach and induce vomiting. After that, give any adsorbents that are at hand. It might be classic Activated carbon or smectite powder.
Be sure to drink plenty of water to remove excess vitamin C from the body.
Ascorbic acid is very useful for the prevention of infectious diseases in the winter, for restoring immunity after protracted illnesses, as well as for smokers and people who consume alcohol. But the uncontrolled use of this vitamin or prolonged excess of the recommended dosage causes serious health consequences. Highly it is important to take vitamins only in the dosage prescribed by the doctor, and make sure that children do not eat ascorbic acid without adult supervision. This will help to avoid hypervitaminosis and harmful consequences.
Many people are well aware of vitamin C, because in medical practice it is often used to improve immunity, as well as enhance the protective functions of the body. Especially often, mothers give their children this substance during the period of colds in order to make the body more resistant to viruses. Hypervitaminosis of vitamin C: consequences of an overdose, symptoms of excess is the topic of our article.
Taking vitamin C without a doctor's prescription is not as safe as many might think, because any vitamin can eventually lead to a serious overdose. Hypervitaminosis of vitamin C: the consequences of an overdose, symptoms of excess are not so common, but still in most cases it occurs in young children, while adults suffer from poisoning with this substance much less often.
What can cause an overdose?
An excess of vitamin C in the body is not common, but there are several main reasons why this happens, for example, patients start taking this vitamin in the fall and spring, while the dosage is observed quite rarely, which leads to an overabundance of this vitamin substance in the body. It is also not uncommon for hypervitaminosis of vitamin C to manifest itself when a person eats a lot of foods with a high content of this component in them, and additionally drinks a complex of vitamins, in which there is a lot of ascorbic acid. To exclude an overdose in this case, it is only necessary to calculate the dose of the consumed substance not only in the form of tablets, but also in products.
The first symptoms of an overabundance of a vitamin
An overdose, like a lack of vitamin C, can be manifested by various side effects that adversely affect human health. As experienced doctors say, an adult healthy man should consume no more than 90 milligrams of ascorbic acid per day, but if you take an increased amount of the component, this can lead to poisoning.
Symptoms can appear slowly and rather weakly, for this reason, some patients attribute them to other ailments. The first symptom may be mild dizziness and a feeling of nausea, then abdominal pains join these factors, and frequent vomiting may also occur.
When the level of ascorbic acid rises in the blood, it immediately affects the normal physiological processes of the body, as they begin to be disturbed. In case of an overdose, malfunctions in the pancreas are observed, stones form in the gallbladder, and deposits can also occur in the kidneys. An increased amount of the substance leads to serious problems with the heart, in some cases, atrophy of the adrenal glands occurs.
If the maximum dose of a vitamin per day is constantly exceeded, this often causes a feeling of heartburn, this is due to the fact that acidity increases in the stomach. Not infrequently, for this reason, pain in the stomach and digestive disorders may appear. Another unpleasant symptom of an excess of acid can be frequent insomnia at night, and during the day a person feels overwhelmed and tired. Often, ascorbic acid is prescribed to cancer patients to maintain the protective functions of the body, but if taken uncontrollably, this can lead to serious health consequences.
With the development of vitamin C hypervitaminosis, the patient may have a decrease in leukocytes in the blood, since the acid destroys these cells and prevents them from recovering. With an overabundance of the component, an allergic reaction often appears, which in the future will cause a persistent allergy to products and preparations that contain ascorbic acid. Women often complain about menstrual irregularities.
Who should not take a vitamin without a doctor's prescription
Although ascorbic acid is very beneficial for the body, there is still a certain group of people who are better off not using the substance without a doctor's prescription. This group includes people who have kidney stones or bladder. If parents give a vitamin to a child without a doctor's prescription, this can lead to the baby developing diabetes mellitus, so that such consequences do not overtake the child, it is important to consult a doctor before using even the most harmless vitamins.
Today, these vitamins for children are produced in the form of dragees, they are sweet and palatable, while they use a minimum amount of dyes and preservatives, which is certainly good. But still, in the composition of any vitamin, you can see additional components, so as not to cause unpleasant consequences, it is necessary to study the composition of the drug in more detail.
This applies not only to children, but also to women who are carrying a baby or breastfeeding him. Any vitamins can be prescribed to a pregnant woman only by a leading doctor, but if vitamin C is taken uncontrollably and in high doses, this will cause the development of pathologies in the fetus. Especially dangerous is an overdose on early dates pregnancy, since the symptoms often cause the development of a miscarriage.
What is dangerous overdose in children?
Children are especially sensitive to any changes in the body, for this reason, even a not too critical overdose of ascorbic acid can lead to serious negative consequences. The whole point is that protective functions not yet fully formed, the baby's body is constantly growing rapidly and actively developing, for this reason, the need for substances may be different for each age. Younger children need a minimum dosage of acid, with age the amount of the substance will increase.
Many caring parents try to give extra vitamins to their children in order to support the functioning of the body and immunity, and an excess of vitamin C can lead to the development of diabetes in the baby.
Children under three years of age should receive only fifteen milligrams of this substance per day, which will replenish the necessary norm of the vitamin in the body, children under eight years old can consume ten milligrams more, and up to twelve years old the child is supposed to take about forty-five milligrams of acid inside. This amount of vitamin substance is easiest to get from useful products nutrition. If the child is often sick, then only an experienced specialist can prescribe this drug.
What are the consequences of an overdose?
A high level of acid in the blood may not have a strong negative effect on health right away, but later the patient may see some unpleasant symptoms that will turn out to be the consequences of an overabundance of this substance. In adults, as well as in babies, an increase in blood sugar develops, followed by the onset of diabetes mellitus, and kidney and gallbladder stones can be deposited. But this does not mean at all that this vitamin cannot be used at all, because if you consult a doctor, you can get answers to some of your questions. Also, only a doctor will determine the need for vitamin C and its dosage.
What to do with an overdose?
As already mentioned, an overdose is especially dangerous for very young children, it is for this reason that it is worth learning how to behave if a child is poisoned with vitamins. Most often, children find a jar with bright and tasty contents, and then eat a few pills or even the entire package, in which case there may be an acute excess of acid in the body, it is necessary to immediately help the child.
First of all, the stomach is washed, for this the child is given to drink more clean boiled water, then it is necessary to induce vomiting in order to remove the remnants of vitamins from the stomach.
It is advisable to rinse the stomach a couple of times to remove more pills, then the baby is given activated charcoal or Smecta.
Before all these actions, parents must call ambulance, as the child will need a complete examination by doctors. If the doctors decide to leave the baby at home, it is better to insist on hospitalization, as the symptoms of poisoning may appear after a few hours.
Adults are given the same first aid, in most cases, an overdose in adults occurs if the drug is taken in large doses intentionally. It is worth remembering that an excess of vitamin C in the blood leads to the fact that a person develops pulmonary edema or anaphylactic shock, this is not uncommon when using a very large dose of a substance at a time.
Currently, the benefits of vitamins are known to everyone. For this reason, many begin to take them on their own, without consulting with specialists. This is dangerous, as it can cause a state of overdose, which will negatively affect the human body as a whole, affect the functioning of its internal organs and their systems. An excess of vitamin C often causes the development of various diseases. For this reason, it is necessary to know what to do if symptomatic manifestations of such a condition appear.
Why is vitamin C useful?
As schoolchildren, for the first time in biology lessons, people learn about such a terrible disease as scurvy. It appears due to a long-term lack of vitamin C. Based on this, we can conclude that ascorbic acid is a substance indispensable for the human body. It is known that some animals can independently produce a useful element, however, a person is deprived of such an ability, unfortunately. For this reason, he has to enrich his diet with foods containing it, and additionally take multivitamins.
The main benefits of vitamin C are:
- regulation of carbohydrate metabolism;
- normalization of cellular redox processes;
- improved capillary permeability;
- stimulation of the synthesis of hormonal elements of the steroid type;
- maintaining the production of collagen and procollagen particles;
- strengthening the body's immune system;
- strengthening of bone tissue, dental dentin;
- normalization of the process of blood clotting;
- participation in the metabolism of vitamins A, E, B.
With a sufficient amount of ascorbic acid in the human body, its stress resistance increases. He is not so prone to depressive disorders, impaired functioning nervous system. It is also noted that under the influence of an "acidic" vitamin, the process of wound healing occurs faster, the healing process accelerates, and aging slows down.
Foods containing the vitamin
Most of the "ascorbic acid" is found in products such as:
- Bell pepper;
- spinach;
- broccoli;
- black and red currants;
- parsley;
- tomatoes.
Who should not take "ascorbic acid"?
Despite the enormous benefits of ascorbic acid, there are groups of people who should not take it. These include:
- those who suffer from dysfunction of the renal system;
- people diagnosed with diabetes;
- those who adhere to the “salt” diet food”;
- pregnant women;
- people suffering from a constant increase in blood pressure;
- those who are diagnosed with cataract;
- those who have a tendency to thrombosis.
It is important to consult with a specialist before starting to take "ascorbic acid". This is especially true for pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and children. It is known that people suffering from nicotine or alcohol addiction, need not only to adjust the diet, but also to take pharmaceutical preparations, since there is no “acidic” vitamin in their body at all.
Daily rate of ascorbic acid
When determining the daily norm of vitamin C, necessary for the normal functioning of the human body, experts pay attention to a number of factors. These include the weight and age categories to which the patient belongs, the level of physical activity, gender, lifestyle, the amount of stress suffered over a certain period of time, the use of medications and climatic conditions of life.
For a healthy person
In adults daily requirement in vitamin C varies from 60 to 80 mg. Such a large amount of the compound is necessary for the reason that it is quickly consumed by the body. The child has daily rate vary from 35 to 50 mg. It is known that the older a person becomes, the slower his body absorbs the beneficial substance.
It is extremely important for athletes to take preparations containing ascorbic acid, since their need for it is 80-100 mg daily. The same applies to pregnant, lactating women, as well as people suffering from nicotine, alcohol addiction. It is extremely important to select the dosage of drugs, looking back at what foods a person consumes daily contain “sourness”, that is, vitamin C.
During the illness
During the period of illness, the body's daily need for "ascorbic acid" increases several times. So, an adult needs from 100 to 150 mg of a substance per day. Given the fact that most pharmaceutical preparations contain 50 mg of an element in one dragee, a person needs to take 2 to 3 pieces during the day. In no case should you take all the pills at one time. In addition, it is advisable to consult with your doctor about this.
Reasons for an overdose
They begin to talk about the state of overdose when a person takes more than 1 g of ascorbic acid per day. In the case when he takes the daily dose of the drug at a time, it is also possible to feel worse. If the excess of the "sour" vitamin is small, the renal system easily processes it and removes it from the body. The main reasons for the development of an overdose state are:
- accidental use of a large amount of a substance, usually seen in children;
- simultaneous use of pharmaceutical preparations and food products enriched with "ascorbic acid";
- constant use of vitamin C in the autumn-spring period, when a state of beriberi is often observed.
Usually people turn to a specialist for help at a time when symptomatic manifestations become very noticeable. During this period, the state of overdose becomes chronic, and therefore already requires adjustment by a specialist.
Overdose symptoms
With long-term use of vitamin C in humans, general disturbances in the functioning of the body are observed. These include:
- feeling of weakness, fatigue;
- frequent dizziness;
- pain in the abdomen;
- diarrhea;
- feeling of heartburn;
- allergy, manifested by skin itching, redness of the dermis, the appearance of pimples, nasopharyngeal edema, anaphylactic shock;
- frequent migraines;
- nausea turning into vomiting.
In the event that an overdose condition occurs in a child, the following symptoms are observed:
- increased nervous excitability;
- aggressive unmotivated behavior;
- skin rashes.
At the first indicated symptomatic manifestations, it is important to consult a specialist. It may be necessary to undergo additional examination to find out if this condition is chronic.
What does a chronic overdose of ascorbic acid lead to?
Do not ignore the alarm bells that the body signals that something is wrong with it. Chronic overdose of ascorbic acid is manifested by severe consequences. These include:
- gastritis, peptic ulcer of the stomach, caused by impaired functioning of the digestive tract;
- failure of the menstrual cycle;
- the occurrence of stone formation in the organs of the renal system, the gallbladder;
- slowing down the process of assimilation of cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12);
- damage to leukocyte cells, which is irreversible.
In children, a chronic overdose "results" in diabetes mellitus, intolerance to any products that contain vitamin C.
What is the risk of overdose during pregnancy?
Many pregnant women believe that "sourness" will not affect the development of the fetus, their well-being, and therefore take vitamin C almost uncontrollably. This attitude to the use of "ascorbic acid" is very dangerous. Its consequences are the development of rebound scurvy in infants, involuntary termination of pregnancy in the early stages. The main signs of an overabundance of "ascorbic acid" in pregnant women are:
- painful cramps in the stomach;
- nausea turning into vomiting;
- deterioration in well-being.
In addition, in women, the body's ability to process and absorb cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), selenium, and copper begins to decrease. At the first signs of a deterioration in well-being, you should contact the gynecologist who is leading the pregnancy and stop taking the drugs. Otherwise, negative consequences may develop.
How to get rid of the negative state?
It is known that in case of poisoning with substances of synthetic origin, it is advisable to wash the stomach. However, in case of an overdose of vitamin C, such a procedure can help in the first five to seven minutes. If it took longer to identify the cause of the deterioration of well-being, it is better to immediately contact a specialist. It is not uncommon for a patient to be hospitalized, as there is a possibility of developing Quincke's edema or anaphylactic shock.
When it is not possible to urgently see a doctor, experts recommend dividing three liters of purified water into several portions and drinking them throughout the day. With the development of allergic reactions, it is necessary to immediately take antihistamines. Naturally, you should immediately stop taking drugs containing ascorbic acid. And in general, experts recommend getting a valuable element from food, and not synthetically made pharmaceutical products.
To date, vitamins are consumed by many, but this does not always happen under doctoral control. 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 use vitamins uncontrollably, and even exceed the recommended dosage, an overdose may occur. After all, vitamins are the same drugs as other pharmaceutical products.
They can interfere with the functioning of the body. When can you get poisoned with vitamin C? What symptoms appear in case of an overdose and who should be careful about the use of ascorbic acid and what is the danger of poisoning with this vitamin?
Initially, let's try to figure out how vitamin C affects metabolic processes in the human body.
Few people in school have not heard that with beriberi, a condition such as scurvy can develop.
Vitamin C: Role, Sources, Daily Value If ascorbic acid is absent in 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 the deficiency of this substance causes complex disorders. The human body cannot synthesize the vitamin in question, and it must come from outside.
The functions that ascorbic acid performs
- Takes part in reductive-oxidative processes at the intracellular level;
- Responsible for the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism;
- Provides normal capillary permeability;
- Takes part in the exchange of vitamins E, A and A;
- Improves blood clotting;
- Affects the strengthening of dental dentin and bone tissue;
- Improves the state of the immune system;
- Provides the synthesis of procollagen and collagen;
- Supports the production of steroid hormones.
Ascorbic acid is also needed by the body so that it can more easily cope with stressful situations. This is a natural antioxidant substance that provides accelerated wound healing, restores the body's defenses.
Vitamin C is an excellent prophylactic against the occurrence of inflammatory diseases, helps to slow down the aging process.
But if you use the product incorrectly, then it can harm your health, this substance can be poisoned.
The harm of vitamin C
If vitamin C is used correctly, side effects will not develop. But you need to know that there are people who should be extremely careful about the use of this substance.
The following groups of people are prone to an overdose of ascorbic acid:
- Individuals who have been recommended a salt diet by their doctor;
- Persons who have diabetes mellitus;
- Persons who have kidney problems;
- Those with high blood pressure;
- Persons who have cataracts;
- Women in position;
- Persons who are elephants to thrombosis.
In people who smoke and abuse alcohol, on the contrary, the need for vitamin C increases. They do not have the necessary supply of vitamin C in the body, since it tends to break down 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 saturated with vitamin C, then when consumed vitamin preparations the dose should be reduced so that an overdose does not develop.
Products saturated with ascorbic acid:
- Tomatoes;
- Parsley;
- Oranges, lemons and other citrus fruits;
- sweet paprika;
- Broccoli;
- Black currant;
- Spinach.
If you eat 1 orange per day, then the daily norm of the vitamin in question will be fully provided.
Overdose
If you consume more than 1 g of vitamin C per day, then an overdose will occur. A small excess of this component can be excreted through the kidneys from the body, while there will be absolutely no harm.
What causes an overdose:
- Constant abuse of ascorbic acid in spring and autumn;
- The simultaneous use of a large amount 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 an overdose of ascorbic acid
When vitamin C enters the body in increased quantities, the following symptoms appear:
- The person becomes weak, he has no strength;
- The stomach starts to hurt;
- Spinning head;
- Diarrhea occurs;
- The poisoned person begins to vomit, he is sick;
- The head starts to hurt;
- Allergic reactions appear on the skin - redness, rash.
- Heartburn occurs.
An overdose of vitamin C in children may be accompanied by increased NS excitability, itching and skin rashes.
Consequences of an overdose of ascorbic acid
If the overdose is prolonged, then this can provoke the development of quite serious consequences:
- Kidney disease may occur;
- There is a malfunction of the pancreas;
- A gastric ulcer, gastritis develops;
- In the body, vitamins B group are present in insufficient quantities;
- Blood clotting is impaired;
- Blood pressure rises;
- In the fairer sex, the menstrual cycle may be disturbed;
- The number of leukocytes in the bloodstream decreases;
- A persistent allergy to vitamin C develops.
Overdose of ascorbic acid during childbearing
During pregnancy, an overdose of this component is quite dangerous, it can provoke disturbances in the metabolic processes in a child. It can also be the cause of the development in children of such a condition as rebound scurvy. If the overdose is very strong, then it can cause a miscarriage.
Overdose symptoms in pregnant women:
- There is severe vomiting;
- The state of health deteriorates sharply, the woman feels weak;
- There are stomach cramps.
In addition, the absorption of B vitamins is impaired.
How to help with a vitamin C overdose
Vitamin C is a highly water soluble vitamin. For this reason, if an overdose is suspected, drinking plenty of water should be ensured. Well, of course, stop taking ascorbic acid.
If a person has consumed a lot of vitamin C at a time - more than 20 g, then an urgent need to rinse the stomach and provoke vomiting. Next, use activated charcoal and then continue drinking plenty of water. This is necessary to increase urination.
findings
Ascorbic acid is very useful substance, which helps to cope with diseases of colds and infectious etiology. It is an essential vitamin for people who drink alcohol and smoke.
But if this remedy is used uncontrollably and constantly increases the recommended dosage, then this can significantly harm the body.
It is forbidden to consume more than 60 mg of vitamin C per day. Also, intoxication with ascorbic acid can occur if more than 20 g is taken at a time.
In case of poisoning, the following symptoms appear - dizziness, soreness in the abdomen, loss of strength, vomiting, nausea. If you exceed the dose for a long time, then there will be disturbances in the work of the pancreas and kidneys.
Persons suffering from diabetes mellitus, with impaired kidney function, as well as pregnant women, should take extra care when taking vitamin C.
The norm is up to 90 mg for an adult and up to 30 mg for a child per day.. This is usually written in the prescription for the drug.
AT practical application it means that:
- babies on breastfeeding, additional intake of the substance is not required;
- daily dose of children under 3 years old - 15 mg;
- 25 mg will be enough for preschoolers;
- will be most effectively protected against colds at 45 mg per day;
- female adolescents - 65 mg, male - 75 mg;
- norm for adult woman- 75 mg. (during lactation + 10 mg, + 30 mg);
- the norm is 90 mg.
Smokers can safely increase their dose of ascorbic acid by 35 mg each day.
Same increased need for vitamin C during exercise(+30 mg). Do not forget that the daily dose includes not only the drug itself, but also all the ascorbic acid that is available to the body. Diet is the key to this.
Its role in the body
Vitamin C affects:
- protection against free radicals;
- the course of the lion's share of biochemical processes (synthesis of hemoglobin, collagen, etc.);
- digestibility,;
- the course of many diseases and special conditions (ulcer, infectious diseases, neurodermatitis, increased physical activity, lactation period in women, etc.).
With its catastrophic deficiency, a person becomes ill with scurvy.. An overdose of vitamin C as a reverse state is also unpleasant, and even dangerous. A fatal outcome is a one-time intake of 30 g of the substance (without its removal, which is possible only with a complete violation of the kidneys).
Excess: symptoms and signs
When taking large amounts of vitamin C orally for a long period of time a person may notice the following overdose symptoms:
- dizziness;
- digestive problems: heartburn, nausea and vomiting;
- sleep problems;
- fatigue;
- skin itching, rash;
- in women - violation of the menstrual cycle.
With special attention to their condition and diet during the regular intake of ascorbic acid, people who suffer from kidney diseases should also be treated.
Consequences of overdosing
Since ascorbic acid affects the formation of hemoglobin and is excreted by the kidneys, then due to the excess of its concentration may occur:
- various failures in the functioning of the kidneys and pancreas;
- gastritis and ulcer (while taking aspirin);
- allergic reactions;
- nervous excitability (possible delayed effect for months or even years);
- complications with thrombophlebitis;
- the threat of miscarriage during pregnancy;
- increase in blood pressure.
What threatens children?
Psychologists who have been studying nervous reactions in childhood and adolescence, argue that "shock" doses of ascorbic acid consumed from early childhood, in addition to benefits for immunity can harm the nervous system.
For this reason, you should refrain from pampering children, limiting consumption to 30 mg. What should be taken into account are both tablets and the products that the offspring eats.
For example, in the summer, during the collection of blackcurrants or when taking rosehip decoctions, pharmacological ascorbic acid should not be consumed at all.
How to treat it?
What to do with an overdose of ascorbic acid? Excess substance is excreted from the body on its own through additional stress on the kidneys.
For a healthy body, it will be enough just to observe the drinking regimen (consumption of at least three liters warm water per day) and eat a balanced diet.
If possible, exclude from the diet foods that have an increased concentration of vitamin C. These include rose hips, black currants, sweet peppers, dill, etc. People with kidney disease should immediately contact their doctor and report their symptoms.
Generally, Overdose of vitamin C is a common occurrence, for most people it goes unnoticed and without symptoms.. But experts say that the abuse of sweet balls can not only aggravate existing diseases, but also affect human health in later life.
Useful video
Watch a helpful video about an overdose of this vitamin: