Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)

Vitamin C, which is also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin. Vitamin C is essential for the manufacture of collagen, a protein that forms the basis of connective tissues such as bones, teeth and cartilage. It is also essential to wound healing, healthy immune and nervous systems and adrenal hormone production. It also acts as an antioxidant to help prevent disease. 

Precautions

General
There are no known toxicities associated with vitamin C. Large doses of vitamin C may interfere with tests to determine occult blood in the stool and tests to monitor blood glucose levels in diabetics.

Health Conditions
People with a history of gout, kidney stones or kidney disease should not take more than 500mg of vitamin C daily without medical supervision.

Side Effects
Approximately 15 percent of people taking moderately high doses of vitamin C experience abdominal gas, bloating and cramping. The mineral ascorbates such as calcium or magnesium ascorbate are not acidic and may solve this problem.