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Vitamin C - more is not better apparently!

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/26/2009 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
I read this article earlier this week and it stated: "Vitamin C is particularly notorious for causing gas, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea." It goes on with more details (link for the article is below) and then goes on to say that unless recommended by a docter, you should not take suppliments with more than 100% of the DRV of Vitamin C.

So I checked my suplements. My Women's One-A-Day has 100% DRV. And my Super B-Complex has 150%!! So I've been taking 250% of the DRV every morning! No wonder mornings are terrible for me!

So yesterday I only took the multi-vitamin, and my morning was significantly better. I went maybe twice between breakfast and lunch - which can normally easily exceed 3 or 4. Then today, I did the same, and I've only gone once since breakfast so far, and I feel so much better! Was Vitamin C really my culprit???

So now I need to find a B-complex vitamin without C, because I do feel less energetic when I don't have the B vitamins.

Just thought I'd share my story! :-)

http://www.helpforibs.com/news/newsletter/08/021908.html#askheather

 

Posted 3/26/2009 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
I think you need to take quite a bit of Vit C before it will cause any problems. Honestly I wouldn't worry about 250% or even 500%, the percentage is based off of recommended daily amount for a diet, it isn't written in stone for each person.
Posted 3/27/2009 10:07 AM (GMT 0)
As with many of these things it's what works for you.

This study http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18703751?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum on rats finds Vit C doubles the effectiveness of 5-ASA and 5-ASA plus Vit E improves the effectiveness by 82% compared to 31% with 5-ASA alone.
Posted 3/27/2009 11:17 AM (GMT 0)
I take 5000mg to 9000mg at times of C. No changes, and there really shouldn't be. I don't give much thought to DRV's as they are usually pretty low. I never have reached a D level.
Posted 3/29/2009 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
When I took Dipentum (5-ASA) in the 1990s, it came with an instruction sheet that warned against taking large amounts of vit C. I don't recall the exact wording, but it had something to do with hydration. I myself limit o.j. consumption to 4 oz. daily because, for me, citrus + mesalamine has a dehydrating effect. You definitely need to replace B-vitamins daily because they are water-soluble and therefore do not store in body tissue. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently fighting off flare in sigmoid colon)
Posted 3/29/2009 5:38 AM (GMT 0)
I have been sick recently, and have started to take vitamin C tablets to get off the cold. I wonder what is the correct dosage of vitamin C. As I think that ulcerative colitis is an immunodeficiency disease rather than an autoimmune disorder. But, then again who knows how much vitamin C actually bolsters the immune system. One theory I had was if taking to much vitamin C would then overload your colon. As in, too much vitamin C in the small intestine cannot be absorbed so it goes to the large intestine and it being an acid damages the already ulcerated colon.
Posted 3/13/2015 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
I was thinking about adding 2000mg Vit C (Ester C) to my diet to help reduce my cholesterol level (worked for my brother, so I figured I might try it).

Any other info out there about potential negative impacts on our UC symptoms?
Posted 3/13/2015 4:15 PM (GMT 0)
Nocebo effect as to OP. Shouldn't be harmful unless you're eating a super high fruit and veggie diet, which most of us can't. I'm currently out, but usually take a gram a day of the Vitamin C powder. http://www.livestrong.com/article/339620-vitamin-c-ulcerative-colitis/
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