What is a known effect of excessive ascorbic acid intake?

Prepare for the Clinical Nutrition Exam with comprehensive quizzes, flashcards, and detailed explanations to enhance your understanding and improve your chances of success.

Multiple Choice

What is a known effect of excessive ascorbic acid intake?

Explanation:
Excessive intake of vitamin C can cause GI upset and kidney stone formation. When you push far beyond the amount the gut can absorb, unabsorbed vitamin C pulls water into the intestine, leading to cramps, diarrhea, and nausea. The surplus vitamin C is also metabolized to oxalate, increasing urinary oxalate and raising the risk of calcium oxalate stones. In some discussions, megadoses are also linked to other metabolic disturbances that may affect those prone to gout, but the strongest, well-established adverse effects are the GI symptoms plus kidney stones. That’s why this option best reflects the known risks of very high vitamin C intake.

Excessive intake of vitamin C can cause GI upset and kidney stone formation. When you push far beyond the amount the gut can absorb, unabsorbed vitamin C pulls water into the intestine, leading to cramps, diarrhea, and nausea. The surplus vitamin C is also metabolized to oxalate, increasing urinary oxalate and raising the risk of calcium oxalate stones. In some discussions, megadoses are also linked to other metabolic disturbances that may affect those prone to gout, but the strongest, well-established adverse effects are the GI symptoms plus kidney stones. That’s why this option best reflects the known risks of very high vitamin C intake.

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