# Vitamin C for Constipation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 24, 2009, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-for-constipation/504139 "2009-07-24T17:32:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-for-constipation/504139/1 "2009-07-24T17:32:39Z")
Whenever I hear ppl bitching about constipation, I always wonder why they don’t just take a lot of Vitamin C. Whenever I take a lot (for colds, impending UTIs, invoke the menses), everything goes right through me. Does it just not work if you’re that backed up? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-for-constipation/504139/2 "2009-07-25T01:07:56Z")
At this time of the year here in Minnesota, I would just eat a lot of fresh sweet corn. Works just as well, tastes a whole lot better, and it’s cheaper. Heck, I do that when the sweet corn crop comes in, even when I don’t have constipation. And knowing full well the results of eating it. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-for-constipation/504139/3 "2009-07-25T01:11:12Z")
I think you have to take a few thousand times the daily recommended allowance to get that side effect, if I’m not mistaken. Some people might not be comfortable with that. The few times I’ve ever been constipated enough to do something about it, warm water has worked fine. ---
**Author:** ![Tamex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Tamex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamex)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-for-constipation/504139/4 "2009-07-25T02:20:01Z")
Invoke the menses? Huh? I have never noticed that mega-doses of vitamin C have had a laxative effect on me at all. Coffee is much more effective. Different strokes for different folks! ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-for-constipation/504139/5 "2009-07-25T03:05:06Z")
Isn’t this a perfect example of why anecdotal information about medications drives professionals straight out of their minds. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-for-constipation/504139/6 "2009-07-25T04:26:20Z")
Yeah, whenever I’ve needed to menstruate but it’s been late, I find taking large doses of vitamin C helps. And yes…I do tend to take well past the recommended doses. But like, only when I absolutely need to. It really does work for the colds, too. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-for-constipation/504139/7 "2009-07-25T11:23:46Z")
Dr. Atkins recommended this method if his diet caused constipation (that and psylliam husks.) Whether or not you feel he is a doctor you can trust would be up to you. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-for-constipation/504139/8 "2009-07-25T12:01:26Z")
Been on the SDMB a long time. This is GQ. This thread is everything a GQ thread shouldn’t be. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-for-constipation/504139/9 "2009-07-25T12:58:29Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Yeah, whenever I’ve needed to menstruate but it’s been late, I find taking large doses of vitamin C helps. [So, you are using vitamin C as an abortifactant?](http://www.sisterzeus.com/Hsp1shlp.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-for-constipation/504139/10 "2009-07-25T16:32:55Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > [So, you are using vitamin C as an abortifactant?](http://www.sisterzeus.com/Hsp1shlp.htm) No, just to induce menstruation. Where did I say I was using it as an abortifactant? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-for-constipation/504139/11 "2009-07-25T17:26:32Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Whenever I hear ppl bitching about constipation, I always wonder why they don’t just take a lot of Vitamin C. Whenever I take a lot (for colds, impending UTIs, invoke the menses), everything goes right through me. Does it just not work if you’re that backed up? As Cisco mentioned, by “a lot” we’re likely talking multiple grams (or 1000’s of milligrams) of vitamin C. Although taking some extra may be helpful when you are ill with a flu or cold, taking more than a couple grams is generally thought to be pretty much useless and can lead to undesirable side-effects. wiki "\*Relatively large doses of vitamin C may cause indigestion, particularly when taken on an empty stomach. When taken in large doses, vitamin C causes diarrhea in healthy subjects. In one trial, doses up to 6 grams of ascorbic acid were given to 29 infants, 93 children of preschool and school age, and 20 adults for more than 1400 days. With the higher doses, toxic manifestations were observed in five adults and four infants. The signs and symptoms in adults were nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, flushing of the face, headache, fatigue and disturbed sleep. The main toxic reactions in the infants were skin rashes\* And, chemical laxatives can be bad for you. When you experience mild and occasional constipation, you should add fiber\* (with plenty of water to wash it down, and the water also helps as Cisco sez), and/or probiotics. If it goes beyond _mild and occasional_, see your MD. I can find nothing which suggests vitamin C “to induce menstruation” as a safe or suggested treatment. - which can include many “bulk-forming laxatives”: wiki: _Also known as bulking agents or roughage, these include dietary fiber. Bulk-producing agents cause the stool to be bulkier and to retain more water, as well as forming an emollient gel, making it easier for peristaltic action to move it along. They should be taken with plenty of water. Bulk-producing agents have the gentlest of effects among laxatives and can be taken just for maintaining regular bowel movements._ ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-for-constipation/504139/12 "2009-07-25T21:40:19Z")
[QUOTE=DrDeth;11376302\* which can include many “bulk-forming laxatives”: wiki: _Also known as bulking agents or roughage, these include dietary fiber._[/QUOTE] Roughage and fiber. So we’re back to sweet corn and other actual, natural foods – like I mentioned in the first response here. I still contend that such real food is better than the most mild of medications. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-for-constipation/504139/13 "2009-07-25T21:46:40Z")
Eat the damn prunes, **Freudian Slit**. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-for-constipation/504139/14 "2009-07-25T22:13:19Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > At this time of the year here in Minnesota, I would just eat a lot of fresh sweet corn. > > Works just as well, tastes a whole lot better, and it’s cheaper. Heck, I do that when the sweet corn crop comes in, even when I don’t have constipation. And knowing full well the results of eating it. Eating a lot of corn gives me diarrhea. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-for-constipation/504139/15 "2009-07-25T22:53:50Z")
If in need, Beef Fajita. With Guacamole. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2009, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-for-constipation/504139/16 "2009-07-25T23:28:18Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Eat the damn prunes, **Freudian Slit**. Prunes, my most hated of…fruits? Veggies? Dried up old things? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-for-constipation/504139/17 "2009-07-26T01:20:37Z")
For what it’s worth . . . I’ve also noticed that mega-doses of vitamin C have a laxative effect. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-for-constipation/504139/18 "2009-07-26T03:28:07Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Roughage and fiber. > So we’re back to sweet corn and other actual, natural foods – like I mentioned in the first response here. I still contend that such real food is better than the most mild of medications. You are correct. Except that corn is only a modest source of fiber, and can be tough to digest. Too much corn upsets my stomach. Here’s a few other good sources: Legumes (beans), Barley, plums, apples, wheat bran, and flax seed. ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-for-constipation/504139/19 "2009-07-26T09:30:59Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Prunes, my most hated of…fruits? Veggies? Dried up old things? Prunes = dried plums I prefer the moist ones over the dried ones - liqueur for a preference - I think brandy is the most common sort (I have been told that port is great way to rehydrate your prunes) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2009, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vitamin-c-for-constipation/504139/20 "2009-07-26T23:21:07Z")
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