


Vitamin C is naturally found in various foods and is an essential nutrient for both animals and plants ( 6). This scurvy curing molecule was named vitamin C, and the C stands for ascorbic acid as “ascorbic” means anti-scurvy. He found that it was able to cure scurvy, a life-threatening condition caused due to a long duration of nonconsumption of fruits and vegetables. To clarify, the UL is defined as "the highest level of daily nutrient intake that is likely to pose no risk of adverse health effects to almost all individuals in the general population." (More on those potential health considerations here.Vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin, is a small carbohydrate molecule, first identified by Albert von Szent Györgyi in 1920. The National Academies defines the tolerable upper intake level (UL) as 2,000 milligrams per day 7. Li adds, if you have a "megadose," you may run the risk 6 of experiencing unwanted side effects. "If you have more than you need, your body will get rid of it."

In general, if you take in more vitamin C than you need at that moment, you'll just pee out the excess, says Zhaoping Li, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Center for Human Nutrition and chief of the Division of Clinical Nutrition at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. adults 4 are insufficient in vitamin C (per blood test results), while 118 million American adults are failing to consume adequate amounts of vitamin C 5 daily from their diets. You may have higher needs during different times in your life." But she notes that at a minimum, you should aim for the RDA. "In terms of what's considered the optimal amount for you, it can vary. "These are just general recommendations," says health coach, registered dietitian, and mbg Collective member Jessica Cording, R.D., CDN. That goes up slightly when you're pregnant (85 milligrams) and breastfeeding (120 milligrams). Like many vitamins and nutrients, the recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for vitamin C varies based on your age, gender, and what's happening in your life.Īdult men aged 19 and up should strive for a baseline intake of 90 milligrams of vitamin C daily, according to the National Academies 3, while adult women should consume at least 75 milligrams.
