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Counting C
After reviewing the latest information about vitamin C, In 2000 the National Academy of Sviences (Washington, D.C.) revised the recommendations that had been in effect since 1989. They increased the recommended daily allowance (RDA) from 60mg a day to 90mg for men and 75mg for women. They also suggested an extra 35mg for smokers of either gender, Finallly, the panel set 2,000mg a day as the maximum safe daily dose of vitamin C.
It's the new standard, but it doesn't mean you should settle for 90mg a day, much less push to 2,000mg. Expect from the Natinal Institutes of health (Besthesda, Maryland) suggest you get if from foods rather than supplements.
In fact, the widely publicised five servings of fruits and vegetable a day should do the trick. A simple daily multivitamin that provides 100% of the RDA is surely safe. Doses aboves 500mg a day may be unwise, especially for people with excessive iron levels, kidney disease, or three days before if you're having fecal occult blood tests t screen for colon cancer.
Vitamin C is crucial for good health. A diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables is the best way to get the C you need. Although the jury is still out, modest supplymentary doses appear safe but are unlikely to help, and large doses may do more harm than good.
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