Can pregnant women take vitamin C?

Can pregnant women take vitamin C?

Yes, vitamin C is safe during pregnancy and your body actually needs a bit more of it while you're expecting. The RDA increases from 75 mg to 85 mg per day during pregnancy. Most people get enough through a combination of diet and their prenatal vitamin, but supplementation at moderate doses is also considered safe.

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What does vitamin C do during pregnancy?

Vitamin C serves several functions during pregnancy. It supports your immune system, which undergoes changes during pregnancy to accommodate the developing baby. It's also required for collagen production, which matters because your skin, ligaments, and connective tissues are all stretching and adapting throughout gestation.

One of its most practical roles is enhancing the absorption of non-heme iron, the type found in plant foods and supplements. Taking your prenatal vitamin with a vitamin C-rich food like citrus fruit, tomatoes, or bell peppers can help your body absorb more of the iron in your supplement.

What the research shows

A Cochrane systematic review of 29 trials involving over 24,000 women found no significant harmful effects of vitamin C supplementation during pregnancy. However, high-dose vitamin C (1000 mg or more, particularly when combined with vitamin E) has shown mixed results. One meta-analysis found that supplementation with vitamins C and E at high doses was associated with a slightly increased risk of gestational hypertension and premature rupture of membranes.

How much is safe?

The tolerable upper intake level for vitamin C during pregnancy is 2000 mg per day. Staying at or below 500 mg through supplementation is a comfortable middle ground for most people. Your prenatal already contains some vitamin C, and a balanced diet contributes more on top of that.

For most pregnant people, there's no strong clinical reason to take a separate high-dose vitamin C supplement unless your provider specifically recommends one. The amount in a quality prenatal plus a varied whole food-based diet covers your needs.

Best food sources of vitamin C

Red bell peppers, oranges, strawberries, kiwi, broccoli, tomatoes, and Brussels sprouts are all excellent sources. A single red bell pepper contains more than twice the daily requirement.

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A note from WeNatal on vitamin C during pregnancy

WeNatal for Her includes vitamin C at a dose calibrated to support iron absorption and antioxidant protection without the GI risks that come with megadosing. Unless your provider has a specific reason for recommending additional vitamin C supplementation, the amount in a quality prenatal plus a balanced diet is typically sufficient.

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References

Conde-Agudelo A, Romero R, Kusanovic JP, Hassan SS. Supplementation with vitamins C and E during pregnancy for the prevention of preeclampsia and other adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2011;204(6):503.e1-503.12. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2011.02.020

Rumbold A, Ota E, Nagata C, Shahrook S, Crowther CA. Vitamin C supplementation in pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;2015(9):CD004072. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD004072.pub3