Is 2000 mg of vitamin C too much?
2,000 milligrams of vitamin C is right at the adult upper limit of 2,000 milligrams a day. Adults need 90 milligrams for men and 75 milligrams for women, plus 35 milligrams for people who smoke.
General information, not medical advice. Check with a doctor or pharmacist before taking a supplement, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take any medicine, or are under 18.
In the UK
2,000 milligrams of vitamin C is above the NHS guidance of 1,000 milligrams a day from supplements. In the UK, adults need 40 milligrams a day. Doctors sometimes advise more for a set time, so check with yours before taking this much.
The figures
| US (NIH) | UK (NHS) | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount checked | 2,000 mg | |
| Answer | At the upper limit | Above NHS guidance |
| Compared with | 2,000 milligrams a day | 1,000 milligrams a day from supplements |
| Share of the limit | 100% of the limit | 200% of the limit |
| Adults need | 90 milligrams for men and 75 milligrams for women, plus 35 milligrams for people who smoke | 40 milligrams a day |
Good to know
- Above the upper limit, vitamin C often causes diarrhoea and stomach upset.
Quick answers
- Is 2000 mg of vitamin C too much?
- 2,000 milligrams of vitamin C is right at the adult upper limit of 2,000 milligrams a day. Adults need 90 milligrams for men and 75 milligrams for women, plus 35 milligrams for people who smoke.
- What does the NHS say about 2,000 mg of vitamin C?
- 2,000 milligrams of vitamin C is above the NHS guidance of 1,000 milligrams a day from supplements. In the UK, adults need 40 milligrams a day. Doctors sometimes advise more for a set time, so check with yours before taking this much.
- What is the upper limit for vitamin C?
- US: 2,000 milligrams a day. UK (NHS): 1,000 milligrams a day from supplements.
Sources
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements fact sheet
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/ - NHS vitamins and minerals guidance
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-c/
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