Once And For All, Here’s What You Need To Know About Vitamin C

No and yes. Consuming excessive amounts of vitamin C doesn’t always cause kidney stones, but it does increase their likelihood, Dr. Sothilingam says. However, “typically, stone formation is multifactorial,” meaning it is determined by a combination of factors such as your genes, urinary system and diet, he adds.   

If you’re worried about stones in your kidneys, Dr. Sothilingam advises reducing your intake of sodium and purine, which are found in food such as red meat, nuts and offal. Bodybuilders should also be cautious when taking protein supplements, as they are known to increase the risk of kidney stones.   

Bottom line: There is no definitive evidence that consuming excessive amounts of vitamin C will cause kidney stones. However, some studies have found that consuming more than 1,000mg of vitamin C over a period of time will increase the risk.   

Due to the successful marketing of vitamin C supplements, some Malaysians think that they need to do more to ensure they take enough of the micronutrient – going so far as to get regular vitamin C shots from clinics, Dr. Sothilingam says. “They claim it gives them a feel-good factor, but a lot of that might be due to a placebo effect.”   

Meanwhile, Yeoh wants to debunk a common belief. “Most people think that vitamin C ‘cures’ colds.” In truth, it only serves as a preventive measure, she explains.   

Bottom line: Vitamin C is not a magic pill. It doesn’t treat colds; it can only make you less vulnerable to bugs.