Mega Dose Of Vitamin C.

[windywillow]

I have just found the following advice on the internet while looking for help on coping with the flu.

"Take a 'mega dose' of Vitamin C. Vitamin C is proven to shorten the duration of a cold or flu once it's started."

Please can someone tell me how much a mega dose is?

[Sqad]

1,000 mgms every 6 hours and the 1,000mgs three times a day for four days.

[pastafreak]

Probably a gram... or more.

Also some useful suggestions here...

https://youtu.be/8noy2a0AqTw

[pastafreak]

I was being conservative...;)

[windywillow]

Thanks to both, much appreciated.

[Buenchico]

I can tell you how big the doses were in the study which you appear to be referring to but, before Sqad blasts me for providing you with dodgy medical advice, I'll make it clear that I'm most definitely NOT suggesting that you should take such doses yourself!

Firstly, using (hopefully) trustworthy sources, here's why I think that you SHOULDN'T be taking very large doses of Vitamin C:

From the NHS website:
"Taking large amounts (more than 1,000mg per day) of vitamin C can cause:
stomach pain
diarrhoea
flatulence"
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-c/

. . . and from the Mayo Clinic website:
"megadoses of vitamin C supplements might cause:
Diarrhea
Nausea
Vomiting
Heartburn
Abdominal cramps
Headache
Insomnia"
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/vitamin-c/faq-20058030

Now to answer your actual question though, the doses in the relevant trial were "hourly doses of 1000 mg of Vitamin C for the first 6 hours and then 3 times daily thereafter"
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10543583

[Buenchico]

^^^ There weren't any posts above when I started typing!

(It would be interesting to read whether or not Sqad would endorse flu sufferers actually taking such doses)

[windywillow]

That's interesting, thank you Buenchico.

[woofgang]

I was going to say the same as the NHS and Mayo Clinic. I don't advise this unless you enjoy living on the loo with your head in a bucket. If you are trying to shift a cold because you want to go somewhere/do something, its hardly likely to help......also "proven to shorten the duration" might mean by a few hours, maybe a day....is it worth it?

[windywillow]

Probably not, woof, if that is correct. Would be interested to hear what Dr. Sqad thinks about it.

[Sqad]

Of all the vitamin supplements Vitamin C is the only one that scientific evidence has convinced me as effective......and that is for a viral respiratory infection ( a cold).
I wonder bother as my Ibuprofen does me and does me well.

To answer the questions posed by the links of Buenchico....I agree those mentioned side effects of large doses of Vit C MAY or MIGHT produce the described side effects, but in probability....they WONT.

[Sqad]

"Please can someone tell me how much a mega dose is? "

That was the question to which I provided an answer.

[windywillow]

Glad to hear that, Sqad, as I take Vitamin C throughout the winter and wondered if it is worth it. Thank you for your reply.

[JF85]

I remember an episode of Tomorrow's World many years ago that said scientists were testing large doses of vitamin C as a humane way to control mice. It was a long while back, but I think the intention was that the mice would live fast and die young.

[wolf63]

I bought Vit C in chewable form. They were gorgeous - so I found it difficult to stop eating them. I ate the whole bottle.

I was in the loo for quite a long time after that.

Personally, I think that they do help a cold, but I have seen no evidence to support this.

[pastafreak]

There are forms of vitamin c that don't cause stomach upset, including liposomal.

https://www.thehealthcloud.co.uk/liposomal-vitamin-c-vs-regular-vitamin-c-supplements/

[windywillow]

I buy mine from Aldi, 20 fizzy tablets for something like 79p and they are 1,000mg.

Thanks for replies all.

[Scarlett]

Look up Altrient C vitamin C which is absorbed in a different and more efficient way. http://collaborativehealth.co.uk/2017/07/altrient-c-vitamin-c-that-is-not-for-the-faint-hearted/ It really doesn't taste bad at all. I take 3 sachets when I am about to get ill (3000 mg) and have never had any ill effects. If you do take too much your body will just get rid of it- diarrhoea. It doesn't poison you, it's just excess requirements. I guess I've always needed it!

[Scarlett]

Look up Altrient C vitamin C which is absorbed in a different and more efficient way. http://collaborativehealth.co.uk/2017/07/altrient-c-vitamin-c-that-is-not-for-the-faint-hearted/ It really doesn't taste bad at all. I take 3 sachets when I am about to get ill (3000 mg) and have never had any ill effects. If you do take too much your body will just get rid of it- diarrhoea. It doesn't poison you, it's just excess requirements. I guess I've always needed it!

[JimF]

How much vitamin C is in a bottle of fresh orange juice? Somebody advised me to drink a large bottle of the one "with bits in" from Sainsburys every day to help fight colds and flu, but I'm not hugely convinced.

[windywillow]

An interesting read, Scarlett, thanks. Do you mind me asking where you buy it from and how much it costs? It does make me wonder if I'm wasting my money on the fizzy tablets.

I was wondering about that too, Jim. I've mentioned it to my husband before and he tells me I should stick to a small amount of fresh orange juice because it is quite high in sugar, albeit natural sugar. Previously I was drinking up to a litre of fresh orange juice a day, he tells me this is too much.

I love seedless tangerines and I wonder how many one would have to eat to get 1,000mg of Vitamin C. Probably a lorry-load full. Oh well. ;o/