What will happen if you eat a lot of ascorbic acid? Overdose Symptoms

Ascorbic acid is very useful and necessary for the body's vitamin (C). Its properties are known even to children, it helps in the treatment of colds, increases immunity. However, not everyone thought about what would happen if you eat a lot of ascorbic acid. Vitamin C is found in many products of plant origin, and it can be bought in any pharmacy in the form of dragees - round yellow tablets.

The action of ascorbic acid in the body

Vitamin C is a substance without which a person can not live. It not only favorably affects the protective properties of the body, but also takes part in maintaining the antioxidant system. This action ascorbic acid has indirectly, through the action and activation of vitamin E. It, in turn, is a powerful antioxidant that protects cells from decay (lipid peroxidation). With the appearance of general weakness and rapid fatigue, it is recommended to start using vitamin C, which has a beneficial effect on the nervous system. In addition, ascorbic acid is necessary for iron deficiency anemia, as it helps to absorb iron better.

Where does vitamin C come from?

Ascorbic acid is produced in the body by itself, but this quantity is not enough to maintain all its functions. For this reason, it is necessary to replenish vitamin C from food. What will happen if you eat a lot of ascorbic acid when you eat foods that are rich in it? Despite the high content of vitamin C, its amount in food can not cause an overdose. A lot of ascorbic acid is found in citrus fruits: orange, mandarin and lemon. Greens are another group of foods rich in vitamin C (onion, dill, parsley, lettuce). Also it is present in red pepper, horseradish, dog rose, cabbage, potato, sea buckthorn and currant.

What happens if you eat a lot of ascorbic acid?

Despite the need for vitamin C for the body, they should not be abused. A person should consume about 0.5-1 g of ascorbic acid per day. This amount may slightly increase during the treatment of colds or with weakening of immunity. But do not forget that if there is a lot of ascorbic acid, an overdose is possible. If a person who consumes vitamin C has diarrhea, abdominal pain, spasms and breathing disorder, these are the first signs that it is necessary to significantly limit his intake. Among the complications caused by an overdose of ascorbic acid, there are: violations of the respiratory, hematopoietic, digestive systems. The most dangerous diseases that can develop are gastric and duodenal ulcers, metabolic disorders, the appearance of kidney stones and increased thrombus formation.

What if the child ate a lot of ascorbic acid?

Children use ascorbic acid in tablets much more often than adults. This is due to the fact that their immunity is weaker, and they are more often exposed to colds. In addition, vitamin C has a pleasant taste. Do not forget that the need for it in a child is lower than that of an adult (30 to 75 mg), so it is extremely dangerous to abuse tablets. What will happen if you eat a lot of ascorbic acid? The condition of the baby will deteriorate significantly, he will complain of abdominal pain, nausea, loose stool, headache. The complications are the same as in adults, but are more expressed in connection with the fact that the body of the child is weaker.

Despite the great importance of vitamin C, it should be remembered that he, like other medicinal substances, is dangerous in overdose.