Vitamin C can be found in certain foods and supplements. It is used to promote healing and to maintain bones, connective tissues and skin. However, taking too much vitamin C may be dangerous for an individual who is with a kidney disorder. High levels of vitamin C may increase the risk of developing kidney stones.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Trusted Source recommend a daily intake of 90 milligrams (mg) for adult males and 75 mg per day for adult females.
They also mentioned that the body does not store vitamin C. Instead, it uses the amount of vitamin C it needs and excretes the rest. When individuals consume 30-180 mg per day of vitamin C, their bodies absorb around 70-90% of it.
If an individual consumes 1 gram (g) of vitamin C per day, their bodies only absorb 50% of it. The kidneys filter the rest from the blood, and the body excretes it.
When the body breaks vitamin C down, it can convert into a compound known as oxalate. Generally, the kidneys filter oxalate, and the body excretes it through urine.
If an individual with a kidney disorder consumes high levels of vitamin C, oxalates may start to build up inside their kidneys, which leads to kidney stones.
Studies indicates that, vitamin C may help individuals with certain types of kidney damage and reduce certain symptoms, such as kidney injury, inflammation and oxidative damage, which is cell dame caused by an excess of free radicals, an unstable molecule.
Doctors recommend a low dose of vitamin C supplements for an individual with kidney damage.
Kidney stones forms in one or both of the kidneys. If there are high levels of certain substances in the urine, such as oxalate, uric acid and calcium.
Generally, the body excretes the chemicals that the kidneys filter from the blood through urination. If an individual has higher amounts of certain chemicals and less liquid for it to dissolve into, crystals can begin to form inside the kidneys. These crystals may attract other chemicals, which causes hard stones to develop.
Once a stone forms, it may pass into an individual’s ureters. These two tubes allow urine to flow from the kidneys into the bladder. An individual may pass small kidney stones without much pain, but bigger stones may become stuck inside the kidney or ureters. These stones may cause an individual to experience severe pain.
Vitamin C is present in foods such as citrus fruits and certain vegetables. It is a nutrient that plays a role in several important bodily processes. Individuals with kidney problems may have to be careful with their vitamin C intake since excess of vitamin C may increase their chance of developing kidney stones.
