Ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, aids in many functions of the body, including the absorption of iron. Large doses of C do not usually cause toxicity because, as a water-soluble vitamin, it is simply excreted in the urine. People who tend to form kidney stones may find their condition aggravated by vitamin C supplementation or megadosing.

Review Date: 3/10/2001 12:00:00 AM Reviewed By:Aparna Oltikar, M.D., Department of Community Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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