Is it safe to take vitamin C during pregnancy? Yes, although it's not a good idea to take megadoses of vitamin C when you're pregnant. There's some limited evidence that taking too much vitamin C in the form of supplements during pregnancy may increase the risk of preterm birth. Excessive vitamin C can also upset your stomach.The recommended daily amount of vitamin C during pregnancy is 85 milligrams (mg) per day for women age 19 and older, and 80 mg for women ages 14 to 18. The maximum daily amount that's considered safe for women in these same age groups is 2,000 mg and 1,800 mg respectively.Your best bet is to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables every day, including at least one food rich in vitamin C. Good sources of vitamin C include orange juice, kiwis, red peppers, and strawberries.And if you're taking a prenatal vitamin, you're probably getting plenty of vitamin C, so there's no need to take a supplement.2013. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) drugs and supplements. /drugs-supplements/vitamin-c/dosing/hrb-20060322 [Accessed June 2016]ODS.
2016. Vitamin C. Office of Dietary Supplements. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/#h8 [Accessed June 2016]Rumbold A, Crowther CA. 2010. Vitamin C supplementation in pregnancy. 11 foods to avoid during pregnancy See all pregnancy, parenting, and birth videosSkip to main content How Much is Too Much Vitamin C During Pregnancy? Post in our General Questions forumFind a discussion topic that suits you Lifestyle & Beauty During Pregnancy Sleeping Position and Sleep on the Back During PregnancyBoth you and your baby need vitamin C daily because it's necessary for the body to make collagen, a structural protein that's a component of cartilage, tendons, bones, and skin. Based on animal studies, some researchers believe that vitamin C deficiencies in newborn babies can impair mental development.Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is essential for tissue repair, wound healing, bone growth and repair, and healthy skin. Vitamin C helps your body fight infections and acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells from damage.
Vitamin C also helps your body absorb iron, especially from vegetarian sources.Pregnant women age 18 and younger: 80 milligrams (mg) per dayPregnant women age 19 and older: 85 mg per dayBreastfeeding women age 18 and younger: 115 mg per dayBreastfeeding women age 19 and older: 120 mg per dayNonpregnant women age 18 and younger: 65 mg per dayNonpregnant women age 19 and older: 75 mg per dayCitrus fruits are especially high in vitamin C, but leafy greens and many other fruits and vegetables are also excellent sources. Choose fresh foods as your source of vitamin C because heat can destroy this vitamin. Also, some cereals and juices are fortified with vitamin C.Try to include a food rich in vitamin C at every meal to maximize the amount of iron you get from the other foods you eat.Foods that provide vitamin C include:Probably not. It's easiest and safest to get your daily requirement from food. A glass of orange juice at breakfast every day is all you need. (Choose calcium-fortified OJ for even more nutritional value.)
Although some studies show that vitamin C supplementation can reduce the incidence of premature rupture of the membranes (PROM), there is some concern that taking vitamin C supplements during pregnancy may raise the risk of preterm birth.There are also reports (though rare) of babies born to mothers who took excessive vitamin C supplements during pregnancy developing scurvy, a severe vitamin C deficiency.If you're concerned about your vitamin C intake, talk with your healthcare provider.Signs of a deficiency include fatigue, gum inflammation, slow-healing cuts, bruises, and rough, dry skin.During pregnancy, it is important to get the proper nutrients to foster healthy fetal development. You may be tempted to take a multivitamin in addition to other supplements. However, vitamin overdose can occur when an individual takes more than the recommended daily amount of a vitamin. This can result when taking more than one multivitamin, or when taking individual vitamins in addition to a multivitamin.
While any vitamin can be toxic, if taken in large amounts, calcium and iron pose the greatest toxic risks when taken in excess. Taking a multivitamin during pregnancy is important, although it is best to talk with your doctor before taking any additional supplements to avoid overdosing. Note: Adequate intakes (AIs) are shown in bold type, while recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) are shown in regular type. *1 niacin equivalent (NE) = 1 mg niacin or 60 mg of dietary tryptophan. †200 IU (international unit) of vitamin D = 5 μg cholecalciferol. ND = not determinable due to a lack of data (intake should be limited to foods); RAE = retinol activity equivalents (1 µg RAE of preformed vitamin A= 3.33 IU). Adapted from Dietary Reference Intakes, Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Washington, DC: National Academy Press. Symptoms of vitamin overdose also include symptoms that are a part of normal pregnancy. If you suspect a vitamin overdose, note changes in your pregnancy symptoms that might be explained by the excessive vitamins.
Symptoms of a vitamin overdose may include but are not limited to the following: If you think you may have overdosed on a multivitamin or supplement, it is important to contact a medical professional immediately. Do not make yourself throw up, unless instructed to do so by a health care professional. Before calling, be prepared to answer the following questions: You can call the National Poison Control Center’s 24-hour helpline at 1-800-222-1222. It does not need to be an emergency to call. You are welcome to call for any question or concern related to overdosing or poisoning. Vitamins and supplements are not one of those things where more is better. The American Pregnancy Association recommends you follow your healthcare provider’s prescription or the directions on your prenatal vitamin bottle. Although taking vitamins can be healthy, too much can be a bad thing. Compiled from the following sources:Staying healthy is vital during pregnancy. Vitamin C is touted as one of the keys to good health because of its immune-boosting reputation.
While some vitamin C is essential to a healthy pregnancy, too much may lead to problems in both you and your baby, especially in early pregnancy. Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, you should get all of the vitamin C you need from a healthy, well-balanced diet and your prenatal vitamin, not from vitamin C supplements. Safe dosage recommendations vary. The American Pregnancy Association recommends 80 to 85 mg daily, while the National Institutes of Health's Medline Plus suggests that pregnant women consume around 120 milligrams daily. The negative effects of vitamin C likely occur at dosages above the 2,000 milligrams tolerable upper intake level. Manage your intake by eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables for their vitamin C content, rather than taking supplements to meet your nutritional needs. Too much vitamin C during pregnancy can cause your baby to be born with a vitamin C deficiency, also called scurvy, according to the American Pregnancy Association. When you ingest too much vitamin C, your baby can develop an intolerance or resistance.
Your own kidneys contribute by increasing the amount of vitamin C they excrete, even after you stop taking high doses. Pregnant women used to turn to vitamin C as a natural way to manage pre-eclampsia, or pregnancy-induced high blood pressure. The National Institutes of Health issued a statement in April 2010 indicating that, according to its research, vitamin C supplements, usually taken in combination with vitamin E supplements, do not reduce your risk of pre-eclampsia or minimize its negative effects on you and your baby. Pre-eclampsia can cause growth restriction in your baby and may lead to stroke or heart attack for you. The condition must be closely monitored by your health-care provider. High doses of vitamin C may cause miscarriages, which prompts some women to use the vitamin as a home remedy for abortion. There is much controversy surrounding this concept, but some health practitioners believe that vitamin C encourages menstruation, resulting in a miscarriage, explains Pregnancy Baby Care.
The amount of vitamin C found in a prenatal vitamin or other multivitamin does not have the high doses that may result in miscarriage, but if you have concerns, talk with your doctor about possible complications. How Much Vitamin C & Zinc Can I Take While Pregnant? Calcium, Magnesium, & Zinc Supplement Safety During Pregnancy Vitamins With Potassium, Zinc, Magnesium & Calcium Side Effects of a Vitamin C Overdose Can I Take Zinc & Vitamin C at the Same Time? Vitamin C & Progesterone During Pregnancy Is Eating Brown Rice Every Day Good for You? Can Too Much Vitamin C Hurt the Liver? The Toxicity Level for Vitamin C Will Vitamin C Cause a Miscarriage? Can You Overdose on Vitamin C Tablets? Is Rice Acid or Alkaline? Vitamin C & Zinc for Wound Healing Foods That Help Healing After Knee Surgery Vitamin C & Pregnancy Termination Disadvantages of Vitamin C Is Pineapple Good or Bad for Early Pregnancy? Vitamin C & Pregnancy Tests