How much vitamin C do you need

Short Description
Vitamin C helps body cells grow and stay healthy, including those in bones, teeth, gums, … If your body doesn’t get enough daily vitamin C, you’re more …

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Content
JAMA PATIENT PAGE
How much vitamin C do you need?
The JAMA Patient Page is a public service of JAMA and the AMA. The information and recommendations appearing
on this page are appropriate in most instances; but they are not a substitute for medical diagnosis. For specific
information concerning your personal medical condition, JAMA and AMA suggest that you consult your physician.
This page may be reproduced noncommercially by physicians and other health care professionals to share with
patients. Any other reproduction is subject to AMA approval. To purchase bulk reprints, call 212/354-0050.
itamin C has become popular
because of its role as an
antioxidant, which potentially
offers protection from some diseases
and degenerative aspects of aging. But
there can be too much of a good
thing. Taking too much vitamin C
can cause side effects such as nausea
and diarrhea.
How much is enough may be a
difficult question to answer. The
Food and Nutrition Board of the
National Academy of Sciences is
revising its current
recommendations for vitamin C
intake. In the April 21, 1999,
issue of JAMA, experts at the
National Institutes of Health suggest
that the current recommended dietary
allowance (RDA) of vitamin…