How much is good to take? I got a 500mg pill plus what is in my womens vitamin which is 60mg. I am getting a lot of infections such as eye and ear and heard this can benefit these issues.Is there any toxicity issues or is this fine or not enough?Also does taking a fish oil pill with your vitamin c do something wrong? I thought I read something about not taking them together but may be wrong. Thanks

of Vit C works better than plain immediate types. But 500mg is plenty for
most people.

Zinc is also important to improve immunity. Check out my zinc thread here.
Acne and skin infections (eye and ear qualify) respond well to zinc.

Most zinc products upset the stomach. OptiZinc is one that does not.
Not expensive either.

Thank you. My womens vitamin has zinc but its 15mg. Is that enough? Is optizinc in different doses?

I avoid going over the RDA of zinc as it can build up in tissues ... C is water souble thus the toxicity level is almost non existant

Given your long history of eating disorder, and the fact that you are still
working on that, I'd suggest you do one a day of the OptiZinc.

Do this for a month or so.

The typical dose to heal wounds/ulcers is 220mg 3 times a day.
Zinc 220mg is over the counter. But typically is only used by doctors.


OptiZinc is 30mg a tablet.

I suggest you read this monograph:
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocente...inc/index.html

What I suggest for you is very mild. No where near any high levels.
here are two links to read:
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocente...inc/index.html

And
http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/pag...54&pageindex=1
zinc is predominately excreted in the feces.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/561613_2
This article gives a table for SULs for zinc. Remember, elemental vs total weight.
This may be confusing.

Mrs. D--
thanks for the info about Zinc....

To the orginal poster-- about Vitamin C: most multi vitamins have plenty of Vitamin C and then, on top of that with most foods and even a lot of beverages are fortified with vitamins and minerals. The sites I've read about the RDA allowance say 60 mg.... But, that varies of course depending on age, sex, pregnant women, etc. I devloped a severe Vitamin C deficiency a few months ago, so I had to do a special course of supplements to get my body back on track and mu nutrition levels up and my dosage of Vit, C was between 500 and 1000 mg. Once my Vitamin C blood levels were back to normal, I was able to lower my dosage a lot (although for various reasons, my doctors still keep me on supplements so as to reduce the chance of ever developing the deficiency again).

As for what it helps--- that is still debated on whether or not it helps the immune system. I never saw a huge difference in terms of getting illnesses and such even when I was on high doses. It helped in some ways, as having good nutrition and dietary habits can do a lot for one in terms of engery and wellness.

Interactions: the only thing I made sure to do when I was taking very high doses, and even now, was to take it at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking Keppra (one of the seizure meds I am) as, while it that possible interaction is under debate, I could not afford to chance it.

It wouldnt hurt to talk to your doctors, pharmacist, and even a dietician to get their input on your situation....

L2L

interactions with Vit C involve changing urine pH. Very high doses of Vit C
over 500mg immediate release, acidify the urine and change the excretion of drugs.

There was a study here on the Health news forum about a recent discovery that Vit C can enhance stomach cancer. Unfortunately I did not copy it off the net and the link to it died (like news links often do). I've searched twice looking for it, in vain. But in essence it was about --and don't quote me-- taking Vit C alone that was more dangerous. Something about changing oxidation in the upper stomach. Or it might have been the reverse. I kick myself for not copying that one off quickly. I thought it would remain there for a while....drat.

I'm still looking for the original study...when I find it I will post it.

Ok so I am a little confused now. So is the vitamin c in 500mg plus the multi of 60mg ok or should I buy a 250mg vitamin c. I did ask the pharmacist and she said 500 was ok. Ugh when I ask my docs like for the b12 and complex I got so many answers from yes,no,take it for 1 week then off,weird things. As for the zinc I couldn't open the med one but the others I read. Ok so I will get the optizinc in that tablet. I wish there was just one big pill for everything.Thanks again

you have is fine. 500mg is typically used. There are no complex issues
typically with Vit C.

I apologize if I confused you Daniela--- what I was trying to say, is unless you have a major defieciency (like I did) the amount your taking should be fine.

L2L