Question:
How much Vitamin C is too much?

I am scheduled 8-15-01 for surgery and am taking mutivitamins (per a previous answer to one of my earlier questions) My question is I am taking a Multivitamin with 250mg of vitamin c, and also taking a seperate dose of 1000mg of vitamin C. Is this too much? I don't want to get sick before the surgery, but also don't want to make myself sick. Thanks in advance for all the support.    — Staci P. (posted on July 24, 2001)

July 24, 2001
While I do not know the recommended dose of Vitamin C, I did want to let you know that Vitmain C is water soluble. This means that your body will just excrete (in urine) the amount over and above what you do not use. Fat soluble vitamins (A,D,E,K) are stored in your body and can actually build up to toxic levels if taken in too large of dosages. While I don't think that you can harm yourself if you take a lot of vitamin C, you can literally flush your money down the toilet. Maybe someone else can help you with the amount that is recommended? Good luck with your surgery! Shelley
   — Shelley.

July 24, 2001
As an RNY pt already, I take a steady 2000mg a day, which is not excessive for me. But in working up for a recent surgery I had to have, I went up to 4000mg a day which I did 8 weeks either side to aid in healing a bruising. Wow, if it helped with bruising, I wonder how colorful I'd have been without the extra C. LOL! But I certainly would not recommend megadoses for life or anything.
   — vitalady