An Overview of Vitamin C and Pregnancy
Pregnant women do have a slightly higher need for
vitamin C, compared to other women. However, most pregnant women will have no problem getting enough vitamin C through their diet. Since many
prenatal vitamins contain more than enough vitamin C, there is really no reason to take any additional vitamin C.
Am I Getting Enough Vitamin C During Pregnancy?
The RDA (recommended dietary allowance) of vitamin C for pregnant women is 80 mg (for women 18 years and under) or 85 mg (for those 19 years and older).
Since vitamin C is found in a wide variety of commonly consumed foods, most people don't have any trouble getting enough vitamin C. Also, most prenatal vitamins contain at least 85 mg of vitamin C per dose.
There is some concern that high-dose vitamin C supplementation during pregnancy can result in scurvy (a vitamin C deficiency) in newborns. Exposure to high doses of vitamin C can increase the body's ability to metabolize vitamin C, and when vitamin C intake is reduced to normal levels, a deficiency may result. The maximum recommended vitamin C dose for pregnant women is 1800 mg per day (for women 18 years and younger) or 2000 mg per day (for women 19 years or older).
If you are pregnant, it is always a good idea to have a discussion with your healthcare provider before taking any medication or supplement, including vitamin C supplements.
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