Tag: Bowel tolerance

According to orthomolecular physicians, the amount of vitamin C a person can tolerate orally without developing diarrhea increases significantly during illness or periods of high stress. This phenomenon, known as titrating to bowel tolerance, is a technique used to understand the body's need for vitamin C during various conditions.

Over 75% of Americans take a daily dietary supplement, and for many, high-dose vitamin C can cause uncomfortable digestive side effects like diarrhea. Fortunately, managing this is straightforward and does not require giving up your supplements entirely.

Overconsumption of vitamin C is one of the most common reasons for experiencing digestive issues when taking supplements. While vitamin C is vital for immune function and overall health, high doses, typically exceeding 2,000 mg per day, can lead to side effects like diarrhea due to the body's limited absorption capacity.

The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) for vitamin C in adults is 2,000 mg daily. Consuming doses higher than this can lead to uncomfortable digestive side effects, directly answering the question: Can vitamin C cause diarrhea? Yes, but this effect is almost exclusively tied to high-dose supplements, not from consuming whole foods.