The UK Department of Health recommends a daily intake of 40 mg of Vitamin C for adults. This amount is considered sufficient to meet the needs of most individuals and prevent deficiency-related conditions like scurvy. The UK does not have a specific upper limit for Vitamin C intake, but excessive consumption (over 1,000 mg per day) can lead to gastrointestinal disturbances, such as diarrhoea and stomach cramps.
The best way to ensure you have the correct levels of Vitamin C in your body is to eat a healthy diet, with at least five portions of fruit and vegetables. For example, a single satsuma will provide you with about 40% of your recommended daily target of Vitamin C. However, not everyone manages to get their full allowance of Vitamin C from food everyday so topping up your levels with a supplement can help, but it is important to be careful, since Vitamin C is an acid, so some supplements can irritate the stomach. A good idea is to look for a Vitamin C supplement that is ‘buffered’. This means that there is a protective coating around the Vitamin C, so it does not irritate the stomach. Most standard Vitamin C supplements available on the market are not buffered.
Our Active supplement contains 26mg of buffered Vitamin C.