What Experts Recommend
Any time of day is fine for taking vitamin C supplements.
Do You Need Extra Vitamin C During Cold and Flu Season?
Vitamin C alsohelps your body manufacture collagen, a structural protein that helps with wound healing.
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Vitamin C is an antioxidant.
Free radicals can contribute to diseases such asarthritis,diabetes, and certain types of cancer.
It may be beneficial to increase your vitamin C supplementation during certain timeframes.
For example, vitamin C has been shown to have benefits during times of heightened stress or depression.
Vitamin C (in any form) can be taken with meals or on an empty stomach.
There’s no significant evidence indicating that one is better for nutrient absorption than the other.
However, vitamin C is acidic.
Some people find that vitamin C supplements produce uncomfortable gastrointestinal symptoms.
Buffered vitamins contain minerals, like magnesium, that reduce stomach acid.
Some vitamin C supplements contain additional vitamins or ingredients.
Should You Take It Before Bed?
Your healthcare provider can make recommendations and help you decide what makes sense for you.
Dosage Considerations
When choosing a vitamin C supplement dosage, several factors should be taken into account.
These guidelines are not specific to supplementation recommendations but rather for overall vitamin C intake.
Who Should Avoid Taking Vitamin C?
Vitamin C supplementation is safe for most people, but not for everyone.
Children should not be given vitamin C unless a healthcare provider, such as a pediatrician, recommends it.
People with certain health conditions should avoid taking vitamin C supplements unless it is recommended by their healthcare provider.
Do not stop taking any prescribed medications or change their dosages without consulting a healthcare provider.
This is especially true if you eat fruits and vegetables that are high in this nutrient.
Some people may, however, benefit from getting a little extra vitamin C in their diet.
They include people who smoke cigarettes and those who may live with smokers.
Pregnant people and those who are breastfeeding or chestfeeding may also benefit.
Vitamin C supplements are typically recommended to be taken with food several times daily.
In some instances, too much vitamin C is not recommended.
People who should not take vitamin C supplements include those with kidney disease.
Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin C fact sheet for health professionals.
Hemila H, Chalker E.Vitamin C for preventing and treating the common cold.Cochrane Database Syst Rev.
2013;2013(1):CD000980.
doi:10.1002/14651858.CD000980.pub4
Hemila H, Chalker E.Vitamin C reduces the severity of common colds: a meta-analysis.BMC Public Health.
The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry.
2020;85:108459. doi:10.1016/j.jnutbio.2020.108459
Oregon State University.The bioavailability of different forms of vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
Otocka-Kmiecik A, Krol A.The role of vitamin C in two distinct physiological states: physical activity and sleep.Nutrients.
Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 2000.
