Ingredient library
Vitamin
Vitamin C
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble nutrient found in some foods. The NIH Office of Dietary Supplements publishes an upper limit of Adults 2,000 mg. Read 2026-08-16.
What is Vitamin C?
"Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble nutrient found in some foods."
How much Vitamin C does NIH publish?
| Life stage | Amount | Printed table |
|---|---|---|
| Birth to 6 months | 40 mg | Recommended Amount |
| Breastfeeding teens | 115 mg | Recommended Amount |
| Breastfeeding women | 120 mg | Recommended Amount |
| Children 1–3 years | 15 mg | Recommended Amount |
| Children 4–8 years | 25 mg | Recommended Amount |
| Children 9–13 years | 45 mg | Recommended Amount |
| Infants 7–12 months | 50 mg | Recommended Amount |
| Pregnant teens | 80 mg | Recommended Amount |
| Pregnant women | 85 mg | Recommended Amount |
| Adults | 2,000 mg | Upper Limit |
| Birth to 12 months | Not established | Upper Limit |
| Children 1–3 years | 400 mg | Upper Limit |
| Children 4–8 years | 650 mg | Upper Limit |
| Children 9–13 years | 1,200 mg | Upper Limit |
| Teens 14–18 years | 1,800 mg | Upper Limit |
Children and teens
Rows for children and teens appear in the table above, in NIH's own wording.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Rows for pregnant and breastfeeding life stages appear in the table above, in NIH's own wording.
What upper limit does NIH publish for Vitamin C?
- Adults: 2,000 mg
- Birth to 12 months: Not established
- Children 1–3 years: 400 mg
- Children 4–8 years: 650 mg
- Children 9–13 years: 1,200 mg
- Teens 14–18 years: 1,800 mg
Which foods contain Vitamin C?
NIH's fact sheet for Vitamin C carries no line we quote here about foods.
Where these numbers come from
Every quote and every amount on this page comes from National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements. Vitamin C — Consumer. Public domain (U.S. Government work). LAFYA read the sheet 2026-08-16.
Read the full fact sheet at NIH Office of Dietary SupplementsWhat LAFYA does not say about Vitamin C
LAFYA publishes no claim that vitamin c does anything in the body, because we cannot prove one.