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I recently decided to experiment with taking some high doses of vitmin C primarily because of what I've read on Paleo Hacks. I started upping my dose yesterday. I did 3x2g with the intention of going to 4x2g the following day.

Well, let's just say that from 1am to 2am I was alerted to the fact that I had crossed that tolerance threshold.

6g seems low given some hackers taking upwards of 15g per day. I know tolerance differs, but is 5-6g a normal threshold level for C (powdered ascorbic acid), or is there an adjustment period for increased acidity in the gut? Or maybe I just jumped in with too high a dose right off the bat. I'm planning on dropping down to 4x1g. Recommendations?

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What alerted you between 1am to 2am? – Jack Kronk Nov 11 2011 at 20:56
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 ^ The bowels, I imagine – Kasra Nov 11 2011 at 21:00
does the powder have sorbitol or some such similar thing? that will definitely cause diarrhea at high doses (if in fact that is what your 'alert' consisted of). – Dan Gregory Nov 11 2011 at 21:35
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 You need to build it up. It's crazy to go from no supplement to 6g per day and then to 8g the next day. I've been taking 500mg for 4 months. Then 1g for 2 months. Then 1.5g for a month. Now I'm on 2g. Unless you have scurvy, you don't start taking 6g cold turkey. That's common sense. – Namby Pamby Nov 11 2011 at 22:40
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 Namby, there is no big detriment in taking lot of C without building it up. You will tolerate it better with more usage so if side effects trouble you, its wise to practice gradual approach. – nope Nov 12 2011 at 8:56
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3 Answers

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Why not just eat real food? I'm not being snarky -- this is a real question.

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Legitimate question, obviously. Mainly it's just an experiment. Some people have reported great results with energy and cold/flu fighting with doses of vitamin C greater than could be ingested with food alone. I decided to give it a shot during flu season and see how I felt. – Pete Nov 11 2011 at 22:20
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 Real human guinea pigs don't just eat, they supplement. To the extreme! – Matt Nov 12 2011 at 0:06
Matt, I take it you are against all supplements? – Pete Nov 12 2011 at 1:22
Matt thinks everything is available on the farm in the right quantity :) – nope Nov 12 2011 at 8:57
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 Even with the proof that the foods we eat today have substantially less vitamin and mineral content than the same foods our ancestors ate, combined with living in a much more toxic environment? I think supplementation, obviously combined with sound nutrition, gives us a much better chance for optimal health. – Pete Nov 12 2011 at 14:55
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Seems like it'd be a better idea to do smaller amounts more frequently in order to simulate endogenous production. I've started to do 1/8th tsp(500 mg) about 10-15 minutes before each meal. If that went well enough and you insisted on more, you could do 500mg here and there between meals etc. Seems like it'd go a lot better. Also seems like diluting the C in more water would cause less of a bowel problem in general.

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I thought humans couldn't make Vitamin C. – PaleoChimp Nov 11 2011 at 23:52
You're correct, humans don't. Though some folks want to second guess evolution apparently. – Matt Nov 12 2011 at 0:04
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 Yeah, that's why I said "simulate." – Travis Culp♦ Nov 12 2011 at 0:11
Good suggestions Travis. Much appreciated. – Pete Nov 12 2011 at 1:23
@Matt: You really need to learn more about evolution. – nope Nov 12 2011 at 8:58
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I had a cold recently and upped my Vitamin C to 1000mg every hour. Did that for about 6 hours for 2 days and didn't have a problem. Probably have to eat well on days you do this.

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