Vitamin C Normal Concentration
Normal vitamin C levels in the blood of healthy adults range from 0.4 to 2.0 mg/dL. The precise threshold at which we can declare that vitamin C levels are excessive is still unclear. Vitamin C levels below 0.2 mg/ or less than 0.4 mg/dL are persistently associated with an increased risk of deficiency due to insufficient vitamin C stores in body tissues. In addition, vitamin C levels greater than 3.0 mg/dL indicate a toxic intake. Whether vitamin C in excess is definitely deleterious remains uncertain. Within 1 to 2 hours after ingesting vitamin C, plasma concentrations increase significantly.
Toxic levels of vitamin C may induce uricosuria and elevated red blood cell fragility in individuals with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, according to limited research. The testing of patients with non-fasting blood samples or the consumption of vitamin supplements may result in elevated plasma vitamin concentrations. The reference values are a set of values for fasting individuals; they do not apply to individuals who are consuming or taking vitamin C supplements. Plasma vitamin C concentrations may reach their maximum between three and six hours after ingestion.
