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The following doses have been studied in scientific research:
BY MOUTH:
- General: The daily recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) are: 90 mg for men and 75 mg for women; Pregnancy and Lactation: age 18 or younger, 115 mg; ages 19 to 50 years 120 mg. People who use tobacco should take an additional 35 mg per day. Do not take more than the following amounts of vitamin C: 1800 mg per day for adolescents and pregnant and breast-feeding women 14 to 18 years, and 2000 mg per day for adults and pregnant and lactating women.
- For vitamin C deficiency: 100-250 mg once or twice daily for several days for scurvy.
- For an eye disease that leads to vision loss in older adults (age-related macular degeneration or AMD): 500 mg of vitamin C, 400 IU of vitamin E, and 15 mg of beta-carotene, with or without 80 mg of zinc, per day for up to 10 years.
- For irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation): 1-2 grams of vitamin C per day for 1-3 days before heart surgery followed by 1-2 grams in two divided doses daily for 4-5 days after heart surgery has been used.
- For emptying the colon before a colonoscopy: 2 liters of solution containing polyethylene glycol and vitamin C is used the evening prior to colonoscopy or as a split-dose taken on the evening prior to and the morning of colonoscopy. The most commonly studied product for this indication is MoviPrep (Norgine BV).
- For treating the common cold: 1-3 grams daily.
- For preventing limb pain that usually occurs after an injury (complex regional pain syndrome): 500 mg of vitamin C each day for 50 days starting right after the injury.
- For airway infections caused by exercise: 600 mg to 1 gram of vitamin C per day for 3-8 weeks before heavy exercise has been used.
- For swelling (inflammation) of the stomach (gastritis): 1200 mg of vitamin C daily along with omeprazole has been used.
- For a condition in which red blood cells are broken down faster than they are made (hemolytic anemia): 200-300 mg of vitamin C three times per week for 3-6 months has been used.
- For high cholesterol: 500 mg vitamin C each day for at least 4 weeks.
- For high blood pressure: 500 mg of vitamin C per day along with blood pressure-lowering medication has been used.
- For treating the reduced benefit of nitrate therapy that happens when nitrates are used all day (nitrate tolerance): 3-6 grams of vitamin C daily has been used.
- For osteoarthritis: 1 gram of vitamin C in the form of calcium ascorbate daily for 2 weeks has been used.
- For reducing pain after surgery: 2 grams of vitamin C one hour prior to anesthesia has been used.
- For preventing sunburn: 2 grams of vitamin C along with 1000 IU vitamin E taken before sun exposure has been used.
APPLIED TO THE SKIN:
- For skin redness caused by injury or irritation (erythema): A formulation containing 10% vitamin C, 2% zinc sulfate, and 0.5% tyrosine applied daily for 8 weeks has been used.
- For skin wrinkles from sun damage: Most topical vitamin C products are applied daily. Studies have used creams containing 3% to 10% vitamin C. Don't apply vitamin C preparations to the eye or eyelids. Also avoid contact with hair or clothes. It can cause discoloration.
BY IV:
- For irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation): 2 grams of vitamin C once or twice in the day before heart surgery followed by 1-2 grams daily for 4-5 days after heart surgery has been used.
- For reducing pain after surgery: 3 grams of vitamin C during the first 30 minutes of surgery has been used.
CHILDREN
BY MOUTH:
- General: The daily recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) are: Infants to 12 months, human milk content (older recommendations specified 30-35 mg); Children 1 to 3 years, 15 mg; Children 4 to 8 years, 25 mg; Children 9 to 13 years, 45 mg; Adolescents 14 to 18 years, 75 mg for boys and 65 mg for girls; Pregnancy and Lactation: age 18 or younger, 115 mg. Do not take more than the following amounts of vitamin C: 400 mg per day for children ages 1 to 3 years, 650 mg per day for children 4 to 8 years, 1200 mg per day for children 9 to 13 years, and 1800 mg per day for adolescents and pregnant and breast-feeding women 14 to 18 years.
- For an inherited disorder marked by the body's inability to properly break down the amino acid tyrosine (tyrosinemia): 100 mg of vitamin C has been used in premature infants on high protein diets.
BY IV:
- For an inherited disorder marked by the body's inability to properly break down the amino acid tyrosine (tyrosinemia): 100 mg of vitamin C has been used in premature infants on high protein diets.
AS A SHOT:
- For an inherited disorder marked by the body's inability to properly break down the amino acid tyrosine (tyrosinemia): 100 mg of vitamin C has been used in premature infants on high protein diets. *