How much Vit C can you safely take at the onset of a cold?

[PICK3]

How much Vit C can you safely take at the onset of a cold?

 

[maxpain]

How much Vit C can you safely take at the onset of a cold?

As much as you want. Whatever your body does not use you will just urinate it out. You cannot take to much vitamin C.

 

[aznurse]

Maxpain nailed it. You can tell when you are at your upper limit when it starts acting as a laxative.

 

[HdanSjr]

The last two posts were correct. Since Vitamin C is a water soluable vitamin, your body will not store the excess that you consume, you just excrete it in your urine. The best way to take mega doses of Vitamin C is to consume 1,500 mgs to 2,000 mgs at a time, about every 3 hours. Some people can handle upwards of 10 grams(10,000 mgs) before the laxative effect starts. From research i have read, 10 grams is the maximum amount you should take in a 15 hour period.

 

[daveyboy2345]

Not sure how true this is or not, but I read that too much of any 1 antioxidant and it becomes a pro oxidant, what do you guys think?
I personally take moderate amounts of a slew of antioxidants instead of mega dosing on any one. Like 1500mg of Vit. C a day 800mg of E a day. 100-200 mcg of selenium day

 

[SuperDawgy]

Not sure how true this is or not, but I read that too much of any 1 antioxidant and it becomes a pro oxidant, what do you guys think?
I personally take moderate amounts of a slew of antioxidants instead of mega dosing on any one. Like 1500mg of Vit. C a day 800mg of E a day. 100-200 mcg of selenium day

Not true, C can't be converted into a harmful oxidizer but it can overstress the kidneys due to the acid content. It's H20 Soluble so you piss out what doesn't get absorbed. Vit E at higher doses can be harmful. I take 2,000 mg of C every 4 hours at the onset of a cold. It usually does the trick.

 

[danielson]

Not sure how true this is or not, but I read that too much of any 1 antioxidant and it becomes a pro oxidant, what do you guys think?
I personally take moderate amounts of a slew of antioxidants instead of mega dosing on any one. Like 1500mg of Vit. C a day 800mg of E a day. 100-200 mcg of selenium day

There has been research which shows that vitamin C does become pro-oxidant at doses above 500mg



therefore i would assume that the upper limits of a safe dosage are 500mg. Having said that, its personaly choice of balancing the risk of po-oxidant vitamin C versus being ill as hell with a cold....I thinkthe pro-oxidant risk is true but i also know my body will filter it within 20 mins due to its water solubility I peronsally never take more than the 500mg at any one time when ill with flu