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Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)

Category:

  • Vitamin

Description:

  • Dietary supplement; water-soluble vitamin

Indications:

  • Vitamin C deficiency

  • necessary for collagen and dentin formation and tissue repair

  • Scurvy treatment and prophylaxis

  • Antioxidant

  • Urine acidifier (at high doses >2 grams per day)

  • Idiopathic methemoglobinemia (150mg per day)

Contraindications:

  • No significant contraindications.

Precautions:

  • Pregnancy category C

  • Excessive vitamin C doses may should not be adminstered to patients with diabetes, prone to renal calculi, undergoing stool occult blood tests, sodium restrictive diets or on anticoagulants.

  • High dose administration to pregnant women may cause the fetus to become “sensitized” to the levels and may experience “withdrawa” after delivery.

  • Some products contain tartrazine and/or sulfite, use in caution in patients who are sensitive to these agents.

  • Ascorbic acid increases serum levels of estrogens, use caution in patients receiving estrogen replacement therapy or oral contraceptives.

  • Ascorbic acid may reduce the anticoagulant effect of warfarin.

  • Large dose of vitamin C (>500mg) may cause false-positive urine glucose determinations.

  • Do not administer vitamin C within 48-72 hours of an stool occult blood test due to false negatives.

Adverse Reactions (Side Effects):

  • Relatively non-toxic in therapeutic doses

  • Large dose may cause diarrhea and precipitation of renal stones.

  • Transient mild soreness may occur at IM or SQ injection site.

  • Too rapid of IV administration may cause temporary faintness or dizziness.

Dosage:

  • Dietary sources: citric juices, fresh vegetables and fruit, potatoes

  • Administered orally or IV

  • Dietary supplementation (RDA: recommended daily allowance):

    • Adults: 60mg per day

  • Scurvy: 100-300mg per day over several days will reverse scurvy effects

  • Infants:

    • preventive: 30mg per day

    • treatment: 100-300mg per day

    • Premature infants: 75-100mg per day

  • Enhanced wound healing: 300-500mg per day for 7-10 days pre- and post-operatively

  • Burn patients: 1-2 grams per day

 

Source: Operational Medicine 2001,  Health Care in Military Settings, NAVMED P-5139, May 1, 2001, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, 2300 E Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20372-5300   

 


This information is provided by The Brookside Associates.  The Brookside Associates, LLC. is a private organization, not affiliated with any governmental agency. The opinions presented here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Brookside Associates or the Department of Defense. The presence of any advertising on these pages does not constitute an endorsement of that product or service by either the US Department of Defense or the Brookside Associates. All material presented here is unclassified.

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