Vitamin c safe for pregnancy

Can You Take Vitamin C While Pregnant? – Nature Made®

Mar 11, 2021 , Pregnancy Tips, Vitamin C

Quick Health Scoop

Vitamin C provides multiple health benefits, including playing a key role in supporting a healthy immune system^†
Vitamin C provides additional pregnancy-related benefits, too
It is safe to take Vitamin C during pregnancy

Eating a healthy, balanced diet plays a critical role in your well-being, but even more so for pregnant women who need to nourish their developing baby. Plus, during pregnancy, women may need more of certain nutrients. For example, pregnant women need a lot more Folate, Iron, Iodine, and Zinc; a little more Magnesium and Vitamin C; and the same amount of Calcium, Vitamin D and Vitamin E.¹, which can be found in a variety of prenatal supplements. (Read More: Magnesium Benefits) But when it comes to taking Vitamin C while pregnant, is it safe and how much Vitamin C per day is safe? What are the benefits of Vitamin C during pregnancy, and how much should moms-to-be take?

Benefits Of Vitamin C During Pregnancy

In general, Vitamin C provides multiple health benefits, such as supporting your healthy immune system, working as an antioxidant by helping to neutralize damaging free radicals in your cells, and as an enzyme cofactor, assisting in reactions such as making collagen and carnitine. Vitamin C also aids in the absorption of Iron.^2,†

But it’s also important to know that additional benefits of Vitamin C during pregnancy exist, too. As mentioned above, the body needs Vitamin C to produce collagen—a part of skin, blood vessels, tendons, and bone. Vitamin C is also an antioxidant that helps neutralize free radicals before they can damage cells. Finally, pregnant women need significantly more Iron during pregnancy as their blood volume increases.³ Additionally, Vitamin C improves the absorption of Iron from plant-based foods.^2,†

Learn More: What are Postnatal Vitamins?

Is Vitamin C Safe For Pregnancy?

Typically, women take prenatal multivitamins both before and during pregnancy, because they’re specially formulated to support the development of baby’s brain, nervous system, and eyes.^† Among the many important nutrients, these prenatal multis typically contain the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of Vitamin C for pregnant women. While healthy women need 75 mg of Vitamin C each day, pregnant women require 85 mg of Vitamin C each day, and breastfeeding women need 120 mg per day.²

As a general rule of thumb, pregnant women should avoid taking more than twice the recommended dietary allowances of vitamins and minerals.⁴

So, Vitamin C during pregnancy is certainly safe and beneficial for both mom and baby, as long the dosage remains within recommended daily levels.

Learn More: Can You Take Melatonin While Pregnant?

The Bottom Line

Vitamin C delivers a variety of health benefits, such as supporting a healthy immune system, but it also provides additional pregnancy-related benefits, too. It is safe to take Vitamin C while pregnant, and it’s necessary for both mom-to-be and developing baby. If you are pregnant, eating a healthy, balanced diet, and taking prenatal vitamins, you’re likely getting all the Vitamin C you need each day. As always, you should check with your healthcare provider before taking any medications, vitamins, or herbal supplements during pregnancy.^†

Continue to check back on the Nature Made blog for the latest science-backed articles to help you take ownership of your health.

Learn More About Women's Health:

When Should You Start Taking Prenatal Vitamins?
What Vitamins Do Women Need?
Vitamins for Women 50+

† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References:

1. Linus Pauling Institute. “Pregnancy in Brief.” August 2016. Accessed on: October 8, 2020. https://lpi.oregonstate.edu/mic/health-disease/pregnancy-in-brief

2. National Institutes of Health. “Vitamin C: Fact Sheet for Consumers.” 2019. Accessed on: August 27, 2020. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-Consumer/

3. Cardiovascular Journal of Africa. “Physiological changes in pregnancy.” March-April 2016. Accessed on: October 9, 2020. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4928162/#

4. Mayo Clinic. “Should women take supplements while pregnant?” January 15, 2020. Accessed on: October 9, 2020. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/should-women-take-supplements-while-pregnant

Lisa Beach

NatureMade Contributor

Sandra Zagorin, MS, RD

Science and Health Educator

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What You Need to Know

Viral illnesses are a big worry for pregnant women. Many symptom-combating over-the-counter meds are off-limits — and thanks to a weakened immune system during pregnancy, a nasty virus can sometimes turn into an even nastier infection.

That’s why vitamin C supplements like Emergen-C — which promise to help you fight off every germ that cold, flu, and, er, pandemic season throws your way — are so tempting.

Talk to your doctor

If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or a fever while pregnant, don’t attempt to self-treat with vitamin C. Call your doctor.

These supplements are like vitamin boosts, providing as much immune-supporting vitamin C as a truckload of oranges — and that sounds like a pretty good idea when you’re pregnant or nursing and everyone around you is coughing.

But is it actually a good idea? Most supplements are considered unsafe during pregnancy because they aren’t regulated by the FDA in the same way as drugs. Plus, some supplements and medications taken while breastfeeding can affect your baby.

Emergen-C rests solidly in the check-with-your-doctor-first category, and we’ll tell you why.

There are several different kinds of Emergen-C supplements, all of which contain what the brand calls “high potency vitamin C. ”

This is mostly a fancy term for “enough vitamin C to turn you into an orange,” but some vitamin manufacturers claim it means their formulas are less likely to cause digestive upset and more likely to be absorbed into the bloodstream than other kinds of vitamin C.

Some Emergen-C products, such as Everyday Immune Support and Enhanced Immune Support Formula, contain a whopping 1,000 milligrams per serving, along with:

zinc
B vitamins
other electrolytes, like calcium and sodium

Other Emergen-C products include:

energizing vitamins
plant-based vitamins
probiotics
electrolyte drinks
a sleep aid

These products may contain lower levels of vitamin C but also probiotic strains, vitamins D and E, elderberries, melatonin, ginseng, and caffeine.

We get it: No one wants to sit around peeling and eating oranges all day in an effort to ward off the plague. There’s a lot of appeal in dissolving some powder into water and chugging down all that sweet, immune-boosting vitamin C in just minutes (or popping a couple of gummies or chewable vitamins).

But if you’re pregnant, you should talk to your doctor first. Most doctors advise pregnant women to steer clear of supplements — other than prenatal vitamins and a handful of much-needed nutrients — for a healthy pregnancy.

That goes for vitamin C, too, as the research is unfortunately lacking. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that some studies have investigated vitamin C’s effects on pregnancy and birth outcomes, but the results have been mixed. Vitamin C improved outcomes in some cases, but not in others.

As such, the WHO doesn’t recommend the widespread supplementation of vitamin C during pregnancy. That doesn’t mean vitamin C use during pregnancy could harm you, but it does mean there’s not enough evidence that the benefits outweigh the risks. Plus, its effects on immune health specifically during pregnancy haven’t been closely studied.

The restrictions are slightly more lax for nursing mothers, though there are things to know there, too.

According to the Drugs and Lactation Database, you can take a high daily dose of 1,000 milligrams — like what you would find in Emergen-C — without any adverse effects for you or your baby. However, high amounts of vitamin C could increase your milk supply, so if you’re already struggling with overproduction, keep that in mind.

The amount of vitamin C in Emergen-C products varies but tops off at 1,000 milligrams per serving for their immune-boosting formulas. Meanwhile, their energy vitamins and probiotics include between 250 and 500 milligrams.

According to the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), pregnant women over 19 years old should get 85 milligrams of vitamin C daily, while breastfeeding women over 19 should get 120 milligrams daily. These numbers are slightly lower — 80 and 155, respectively — if you’re under 19.

As for how much vitamin C you can take without having side effects, the makers of Emergen-C advise that no one consumes more than 2,000 milligrams of vitamin C per day. The ODS confirms that this is also the upper daily limit (UL) for pregnant and breastfeeding women over 19.

Short-term use of more than 2,000 milligrams per day may not cause any problems other than mild digestive distress, but some research has shown that long-term “megadoses” of vitamin C could cause kidney stones or excess iron absorption.

Unfortunately, pregnant women have more vulnerable immune systems. In fact, they’re usually lumped into that infamous “immunocompromised” category along with infants and the elderly. You know how you can’t eat soft cheese during pregnancy because you might get develop listeriosis? That’s because your immune system is weaker than usual.

That said, you’ll get some supplemental vitamin C in your prenatal vitamin, though the amount will vary by brand. Most contain about 85 milligrams per serving, which puts you squarely in the “recommended daily value for pregnant women” camp and should be enough to keep you healthy under normal circumstances.

Whether you choose to add an additional vitamin C supplement is up to you — you may feel you need it during sick season (or if you have other small children at home constantly sharing all their preschool germs with you). But you should ask your doctor first if that’s OK, and how much extra you should take.

Don’t forget that you can also get an extra boost of vitamin C from foods, which is a safer but just-as-effective way to increase your levels. Try eating lots of citrus fruits, red and green pepper, broccoli, cherries, spinach, and strawberries.

We understand the impulse to load up on as much vitamin C is safe during pregnancy, especially when there’s a viral pandemic raging in your neighborhood. But more is not always best when it comes to supplements, so you need to check with your doctor before you consume extra amounts of vitamin C.

Furthermore, the good people at Emergen-C agree. In their FAQ section, consumers are instructed to consult their healthcare provider if they’re pregnant or nursing.

Vitamin C supplements like Emergen-C are probably fine for occasional use, but there’s not much evidence proving their safety or usefulness when it comes to fighting illnesses during pregnancy.

Stay healthy these 9 months by eating a diet rich in vitamins and minerals and practicing good hand hygiene. If you still feel like you need an additional boost of vitamin C, talk to your doctor.

Vitamin C for colds and flu - benefits and properties

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is useful for metabolism, hormone production, protection against free radicals. It also helps the body fight infections - doctors prescribe vitamin C for colds and flu. Means based on it are used to prevent frequent SARS.

Ascorbic acid is needed by all organs and tissues. But the human body does not produce it and does not accumulate. Therefore, foods and preparations with a high vitamin content should be consumed daily. We will tell you where ascorbic acid is contained, how to choose and take the drug correctly.

General properties of vitamin C

Ascorbic acid is involved in the most important processes of the body:

● Synthesizes collagen - fibers that strengthen connective tissue. If there is enough vitamin C, the walls of blood vessels retain elasticity, and the skin remains youthful.

● Produces sex and adrenal hormones.

● It has an antioxidant effect - protects against reactive oxygen compounds that provoke aging and the development of malignant tumors.

● Strengthens the immune system. ¹

The lack of ascorbic acid (hypovitaminosis C) leads to fatigue, decreased performance, constant colds. And its pronounced deficiency (avitaminosis C) causes scurvy, which leads to anemia, affects the joints and gums. Vitamin deficiency is rare in developed countries, and hypovitaminosis is a common problem.

Vitamin C benefits for colds and flu

Ascorbic acid is often prescribed for the treatment and prevention of colds. It works in several directions at once:

● Increases immunity. Resistance to viruses cannot depend only on drugs - the body must be able to resist infections. Ascorbic acid affects all parts of the immune response: it promotes the production of antiviral interferons and antibodies.

● Reduces the impact of adverse factors leading to colds. Bad ecology creates an additional burden on the immune system. Vitamin C supports it by neutralizing the harmful effects of free radicals and reduces the risk of developing diseases and exacerbations.

● Helps to bear the disease more easily. Ascorbic acid for colds and flu has an anti-inflammatory effect, reduces intoxication of the body.

Unlike many prescription drugs, vitamin C is safe. It dissolves in water, is absorbed into the intestinal wall, and the excess is easily excreted from the body. The use of ascorbic acid practically does not cause side effects and overdose. ²

How to take vitamin C for a cold

Vitamin C must be taken daily. The daily dose is about 30–120 mg, but the exact dosage depends on the individual characteristics of the body, lifestyle, and medication. The maximum safe dose is 2-3 g.

Average daily requirement for ascorbic acid (mg): ^3.4.5

● Children - 30-60.

● Teenagers - 80.

● Adults - 70-100. The minimum dose of vitamin C required by pregnant women is 60 mg, while nursing mothers need 80 mg.

In higher doses of ascorbic acid need:

● smokers and people who drink alcohol;

● everyone who is on mono-diets;

● women taking combined hormonal contraceptives or undergoing estrogen therapy for menopause;

● patients who are treated for a long time with corticosteroids, acetylsalicylic acid, antibiotics, calcium preparations;

● Patients exposed to influenza and ARVI viruses;

● residents of latitudes with extremely cold or hot climates and those who are constantly exposed to hypothermia/overheating;

● Elderly - The dose depends on chronic diseases and their treatment.

To determine if you have hypovitaminosis and calculate an individual dose, take a blood test for vitamin C.

During the outbreak of SARS, vitamin C increases the body's resistance. Studies have shown that a daily intake of 200 mg of ascorbic acid reduces the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections by 50%, and in those who are sick, it speeds up recovery. ⁶

For a quick recovery from a cold, symptomatic treatment or taking vitamins is not enough. It is important to use drugs directed specifically against the causative agent of the disease. With the viral nature of the disease - influenza, SARS - the patient is shown broad-spectrum antiviral drugs. An effective new tool that helps to suppress the action of a variety of pathogens that cause viral infections is Nobasit. Taking the drug Nobasit in combination with ascorbic acid, the daily dosage of which is determined by the relevant instructions for medical use, increases the body's resistance to SARS and influenza. ⁷

Vitamin C sources

Our body can get ascorbic acid from food and from vitamin preparations. Some people believe that pharmacy forms are less useful and less digestible, but this is not so.

What foods contain vitamin C

Vitamin C is rich in plant foods - fruits, berries, vegetables. Main sources of vitamin C (per 100 g of product): ⁸

● Sea buckthorn, currant - 200 mg;

● Kiwi - 180 mg;

● Dill - 100 mg;

● Cauliflower - 70 mg;

● Oranges, bell peppers - 60 m;

● Spinach - 55 mg;

● White cabbage, grapefruits - 45 mg;

● Sorrel - 43 mg;

● Lemons - 40 mg;

● Mandarin - 38 mg;

● Garlic - 30 mg;

● Radishes, tomatoes, onions, raspberries - 25 mg.

In order for the body to receive enough ascorbic acid, you can eat a lemon, or an orange, or 4-5 apples daily. A good source of the vitamin is freshly squeezed juices. To close the daily need for vitamin C, it is enough to drink 116 ml of lemon juice, 150 ml of orange, or 1 liter of apple. ⁹

Vitamin C is destroyed during heat treatment and long-term storage of fruits. In addition, with many diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, the use of raw fruits and vegetables is not recommended. An alternative is ready-made preparations with ascorbic acid.

How to choose a vitamin C supplement

In pharmacy vitamin preparations, the concentration of ascorbic acid is higher than in products.

Natural preparations are made from natural raw materials - rose hips, currant leaves, rowan berries. They are dried and crushed to make syrups. Dried fruits and leaves have a lower concentration of vitamin C, but do not contain auxiliary substances - sweeteners, dyes. Such components may have contraindications - allergies, some metabolic diseases.

Tablets and powders are synthesized artificially. However, they are just as safe and effective as natural ones - they repeat the processes of natural synthesis in the laboratory. They are more convenient to take and dose, but they also contain excipients that cause individual intolerance. Contraindications are indicated in the instructions for each drug.

Vitamin C is produced in tablets with glucose, as part of multivitamin complexes. Pure synthetic ascorbic acid without additives is also on sale - powder in sachets with a dosage of 2.5 g. Monopreparations (containing only ascorbic acid) are better to choose if you need an increased intake of vitamin C. Complex preparations contain the daily norm of all essential vitamins.

Precautions for use

Ascorbic acid is not recommended to be taken together or sequentially with certain antibiotics, warfarin, estrogens, vitamin B12, preparations with copper, selenium. Keep an interval of at least 2-3 hours between them.

Taking vitamin C reduces the effectiveness of:

● drugs against thrombosis - heparin, indirect anticoagulants;

● psychotropic drugs - neuroleptics;

● means based on alkaloids - some antitumor, antitussive, lowering blood pressure;

● biologically active additives - copper and selenium.

If you are taking these medications, talk to your doctor about taking vitamin C.

Refrain from high doses of vitamin C if you need to take a biochemical blood test. Ascorbic acid can distort the result of liver parameters, blood glucose ⁴ .

Contraindications

Vitamin C in doses greater than the daily dose is contraindicated in case of individual intolerance, thrombophlebitis and a tendency to thrombosis. To assess the risk of thrombotic complications, do a blood coagulogram.

Consultation with a doctor is required if the patient:

● diabetes mellitus;

● hereditary diseases - sideroblastic anemia, thalassemia, deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, hemochromatosis;

● tendency to form stones in the urinary system;

● increased secretion of the stomach - hyperacid gastritis, peptic ulcer;

● long-term treatment with anticoagulants;

● salt-free diet.

In these cases, taking vitamin C may worsen the condition.

Briefly about the main

➢ Vitamin C increases the body's resistance to colds, supports immunity, helps prevent illness and alleviate its course.

Vitamin C is not synthesized or stored by the body, so it must be taken daily.

➢ To prevent deficiency of ascorbic acid, eat fresh fruits, vegetables and greens in summer, drink freshly squeezed juices, and from the beginning of autumn to the end of spring, include vitamin supplements in your diet.

➢ Canned juices and long-term storage fruits contain significantly less vitamin C than fresh foods.

➢ In the treatment of colds, increased dosages of vitamin C are needed. However, like any treatment, vitamin therapy requires consultation with a doctor.

¹ L.M. Zhitnikova Vitamin and mineral complexes in the prevention of influenza and SARS in adults // Medical business. – №3, 2012.

² Timirkhanova E. A., Abdullina G.M., Kulagina I.G. Vitamin C: classical ideas and new facts about the mechanisms of biological action // Vyatka Medical Bulletin. - No. 4, 2007.

³ Abaturov A.E. The effect of vitamins on the state of the immune system in children // Health of the child - No. 6 (9), 2007.

⁴ Ascorbic acid // Register of medicines of Russia.

⁵ Esaulenko E.E., Eremina T.V., Basov A.A., Popov K.A., Shvets O.V., Volkova N.K. The role of rational nutrition to ensure a healthy lifestyle // International Journal of Applied and Basic Research - No. 4 (1), 2017.

⁶ Shikh E.V. Vitamins with antioxidant properties in the prevention and treatment of acute respiratory infections in children // Questions of modern pediatrics. - T.12, No. 4, 2013.

⁷ Pshenichnaya N.Yu., Bulgakova V.A., Volchkova E.V., Kareva E.N., Selkova E.P., Gorodin V.N. of viral infections in Russia // Therapeutic archive No. 11 - 2019.

⁸ Adyg-Tyulyush A.A., Kuular A.M. Vitamin C in drugs of synthetic and herbal origin // Natural Compounds and Human Health. – Irkutsk, 2020.

⁹ Kostenkov E.A., Zagainov M.A. The content of vitamin "C" in juices and juice-containing drinks. // Biological sciences - №2 (26), 2019.

About the product Download manual

fashion or necessity? — MAMA PRO

MamaPro.by will tell you what vitamins pregnant women need and how to choose them.

Do pregnant women need vitamins and minerals? Of course! Trace elements (including vitamins and minerals) are needed for any person, and even more so during pregnancy and lactation. During pregnancy, changes in metabolism occur and the need for additional macro- and microelements increases, which are necessary for the full growth and development of the child. During this period, the need for calcium increases by 30%, for iodine and folate - by 2 times, for vitamin D and zinc - by 25%. Each vitamin and mineral has its own function and each element is important in its own way.

Where do you get vitamins from?

First of all - from food. If a healthy pregnant woman eats a full and varied diet, then this may be quite enough for her and her unborn baby. Therefore, before running to the pharmacy for a jar of vitamins, review your diet. Only in a situation where a pregnant woman, due to certain circumstances, cannot eat fully, is it possible to take multivitamins, but only as directed by a doctor.
When choosing a diet, you need to remember that heat treatment of food reduces the content of vitamins in products, but the opinion that modern products from supermarkets contain practically no vitamins is just a myth. Moreover, vitamins from food are absorbed better than from vitamin complexes.
Of course, it will be useful to study which foods contain which trace elements, but the simplest rule for a balanced diet is variety.
Life hack: be sure to add vegetable oil to carrot and cabbage salad, this will help fat-soluble vitamins to be better absorbed.

Comment by popular nutritionist Marta Marudova:
– I really like the statement of doctor Steve Jobs that you need to live like people who take dietary supplements (monitor their health, nutrition, physical activity), but at the same time these dietary supplements not to accept. Indeed, on the one hand, there is nothing better than wholesome and natural food, and it’s great if an additional intake of vitamins is not needed, but, on the other hand, the food that comes to our table is not always natural, we can’t always assess whether there are enough vitamins comes with food, especially during such an important period as pregnancy. If, nevertheless, the mother has chosen the path of taking vitamins for herself, or they are shown to her for health reasons, then this moment should be agreed with the attending physician. The principle of “do no harm” during pregnancy is more important than ever.

Are vitamins always good?

Talking about the exceptional need and benefits of vitamins, we often forget that there may be negative consequences for the mother and the unborn child with an overabundance (hypervitaminosis). For example, an overdose of vitamin A in the first trimester can lead to malformations of the central nervous system, heart, and kidneys.
What additional vitamins can a pregnant woman do without?
Of course, proper nutrition during pregnancy is in the first place, but there are several trace elements, the additional intake of which is justified, definitely effective and safe for pregnant women. These drugs are included in clinical protocols and recommendations and there are only two of them: folates (folic acid) and iodine.
Folic acid (folates, vitamin B9)
Needed by all women planning pregnancy (start 3 months before the planned conception) and pregnant women throughout pregnancy, but especially in the first trimester. it plays an important role in the laying of the neural tube of the child and helps prevent serious malformations.
Iodine
Necessary for all pregnant women (before conception and during pregnancy) and lactating women for the normal functioning of the thyroid gland of mother and child, brain development and, accordingly, intelligence.
How about without iron, vitamin D and others?
Vitamin D and iron are micronutrients that are being debated in the medical community. These substances are clearly important, their deficiency will adversely affect the development of the fetus, but they should be taken additionally only with a confirmed deficiency (based on clinical manifestations and / or test results). But vitamin C, despite the fact that it is not synthesized in the body, a pregnant woman does not need to take it additionally. It is better to eat a large orange or grapefruit, a large pepper or a handful of fresh or frozen blueberries a day.

Comment by the popular nutritionist Marta Marudova:
– According to WHO recommendations, a pregnant woman should consume at least 450 grams per day. fresh vegetables and fruits. But note that WHO does not classify potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava and other starchy root crops as either vegetables or fruits and does not recommend them for consumption, because. these foods have a high calorie and glycemic index, which contributes to weight gain. If you really want potatoes, then it is preferable to bake it in its uniform and mix it with other vegetables.

Multivitamin complexes or individual vitamins?

It would seem that taking multivitamin-mineral complexes is convenient, one tablet contains a lot of everything at once. And the advertisement tells us about it. In fact, the presence of a large number of components in one capsule can be ineffective and even unsafe! Some trace elements are incompatible with each other (for example, calcium and iron are poorly absorbed together), others require different intake conditions. Often, the amount of one of the trace elements that make up the complex may not meet the need and lead to an overdose or deficiency, and some of the necessary components may be completely absent (for example, in the popular complex " Elevit pronatal " no iodine, it will still have to be taken separately).

Medicines or dietary supplements – in what form should vitamins be taken?

Vitamins can be purchased both in the form of medicines and in the form of biologically active food supplements (BAA). Both can be found in pharmacies (but on different shelves), and dietary supplements can still be bought in online stores. What is the difference and what to choose? Remember that medicine is medicine, and dietary supplements are essentially food.
Dietary supplements are not clinically tested, so their effect on the body is not known. Dosage forms are subjected to serious clinical trials, have accurate information about the amount of the active substance and, given the right dose, will most likely cover the daily need for a particular microelement. In dietary supplements, the active substance may be contained in insufficient quantities, this may not be enough if correction of the deficiency is really required.

It must be said that dietary supplements that are sold on the territory of the Customs Union (including Belarus) are subject to state registration and undergo a thorough examination of safety for human health (composition, microbiological indicators, content of toxic elements, radionuclides, pesticides and compliance with the data indicated on the label).