This is an automatically translated article.
The article was professionally consulted by Doctor Department of Gastroenterology - Endoscopy, Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital.
Vitamin C has the effect of promoting health and improving the user's immune system. For people with stomach pain, many people think that vitamin C should not be taken to avoid damaging the stomach lining. So can people with stomach pain take vitamin C?
1. The health benefits of vitamin C
Vitamin C (vitamin C or Ascorbic acid) is one of the essential vitamins for the body. Vitamin C is present in many fresh fruits and vegetables. This vitamin plays many roles in metabolism and the function of vital organs. The body cannot synthesize vitamin C on its own, but must supplement it from foods, oral tablets, effervescent tablets, injections,...
Some of the effects of vitamin C on humans include:
1.1 Free Vitamin C has the ability to support the production of Interferon - a protein made by body cells (functions to protect the body from pathogens and is an important component of the immune system). ). At the same time, vitamin C also has the ability to reduce the toxicity of drugs, supporting their excretion through the urine. Vitamin C deficiency easily causes immunodeficiency, increases the risk of infections, especially upper respiratory tract infections;
1.2 Create collagen, anti-oxidant Vitamin C has the function of producing collagen from tropocollagen. Collagen is the main protein component of the connective tissue of bones, ligaments, and cartilage.
Vitamin C can support vitamin E, antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase, ... to help protect the body against the attack of adverse external agents.
At the same time, this use of vitamin C also helps the skin have the ability to fight free radicals generated by ultraviolet rays, avoid freckles and prevent skin aging, overcome the dryness of the hair;
1.3 Synthesis of neurotransmitters Vitamin C is found in high concentrations in brain and adrenal tissues, involved in the production of hormones and neurotransmitters such as Serotonin, Norepinephrine.
At the same time, it also helps the body absorb substances such as calcium, iron, folic acid, helping to prevent anemia;
1.4 Preventing Cardiovascular Diseases Vitamin C helps to improve the strength of the walls of blood vessels, especially those that feed the heart.
At the same time, this vitamin also helps to fight the formation of blood clots, prevent atherosclerosis, reduce the risk of thrombosis and limit hypertension;
1.5 Other effects Prevent bone and joint degeneration, improve lead poisoning, treat colds, flu and regulate blood cholesterol levels.
2. Can you take vitamin C if you have an upset stomach?
Some stomach pain patients wonder whether to take vitamin C or not because they worry that supplementing with this vitamin can damage the stomach lining, reduce the pH of gastric juice and cause damage to the stomach lining. disease worsens.
According to experts, stomach pain is a characteristic manifestation of diseases in the gastrointestinal tract such as peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome or Helicobacter pylori infection. Typically, patients with stomach upset need to abstain from certain foods, beverages, and certain medications.
However, with vitamin C, stomach pain patients can completely supplement daily to improve health and immunity. With the effect of improving resistance, vitamin C supports the process of inhibiting and eliminating Helicobacter pylori bacteria (the cause of stomach ulcers, stomach cancer) out of the body.
At the same time, this vitamin also promotes the regeneration of the gastric mucosa, improves the condition of stomach ulcers, enhances the absorption of nutrients by the digestive organs. In particular, the fact that vitamin C supplementation with antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors in the treatment of Helicobacter Pylori-positive gastric ulcers also reduces irritation to the gastric mucosa. digestion and minimize the risk of side effects.
3. People with stomach pain when supplementing with vitamin C should pay attention to what?
Users need to pay attention that the excess or deficiency of vitamin C causes bad effects on the body. Specifically, a lack of vitamin C will cause a series of diseases that reduce the body's resistance, easily cause infections, slow healing of wounds, problems with teeth, hair, skin,... On the contrary, Excess vitamin C in the body can also cause stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers, diarrhea, increased risk of gout, kidney stones,...
Therefore, when supplementing with vitamin C, people with stomach pain need Pay attention to the following:
Consult your doctor to use vitamin C in appropriate dosage. Absolutely do not use vitamin C without instructions for use by a doctor; Vitamin C can be taken in pill, powder or suspension form. So can stomach pain drink C effervescent? The answer is no. Compared with tablets, when taking effervescent tablets with high vitamin C content, it will increase the acidity causing gastric erosion. For people with stomach disease, effervescent tablets can make the disease worse, easily cause ulcers, serious stomach bleeding;
Should take vitamin C before or after eating. With powdered vitamin C supplements, users can mix with juices or soft foods; Vitamin C should be taken in the morning, not at night to reduce the risk of kidney stone formation; Supplementing with vitamin C can increase the risk of kidney stone formation, so users need to drink a lot of water, add green vegetables and go to the toilet when needed to limit the risk of kidney stones; Do not use high doses of vitamin C for subjects with glucose - 6 - phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, people with a history of kidney stones, with increased oxaluria and oxalate disorders; Vitamin C is easily soluble in water and cannot be stored in the body. Therefore, it is necessary to supplement vitamin C daily; Using vitamin C can cause side effects such as increased oxalate urine will cause nausea, vomiting, heartburn, abdominal muscle contractions; taking a lot of vitamin C can cause diarrhea; affects the central nervous system causing fainting, dizziness,...; Prioritize vitamin C supplements with foods that are high in vitamin C but do not have a sour taste because they do not usually cause kidney stones or other side effects.
4. Foods rich in vitamin C are good for people with stomach pain
In addition to using vitamin C supplements, users should increase the inclusion of vitamin C-rich foods in their daily diet.
Some foods rich in vitamin C and not harmful to the stomach include:
Broccoli: 1 bowl of cooked broccoli has about 50mg of vitamin C; Cauliflower: 1 bowl of cauliflower contains 40mg of vitamin C; Guava: 1 guava can add 200mg of vitamin C to the body; Red bell pepper: 1/2 cup of red bell pepper helps to add up to 95mg of vitamin C; Potatoes: 1 baked potato has 20mg of vitamin C; Kiwi: 1 piece of kiwi has 273mg of vitamin C; Papaya: 100g papaya has about 90mg vitamin C; Strawberries: 152g of strawberries provides 89mg of vitamin C; Other vitamin C-rich vegetables: kohlrabi, cabbage, asparagus, parsley, bitter melon, avocado, litchi, cruciferous vegetables, peas, carrots, mint,...
Vitamin C does not irritate the mucosa or negatively affect the functioning of the digestive system. In contrast, this vitamin has the effect of inhibiting Helicobacter pylori bacteria and supporting the treatment of stomach diseases.
However, taking too much vitamin C can cause many side effects. Therefore, each person needs to properly supplement vitamin C according to the doctor's recommendations to ensure the effects of this vitamin and prevent unwanted side effects.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.
