MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Vitamin C benefit

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Vitamin C benefit

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.

Update Date: 7/31/2006

Updated by: Rita Nanda, M.D., Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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