Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C Powder Form)

In Western culture, constipation tends to be a common, symptomatic complaint. Oftentimes, individuals are forced to resort to laxative-type preparations in order to transiently restore normal bowel function. However, this is a less than desirable modality, as chronic use of laxatives can lead to a dependent situation, secondary to laxative abuse. In these cases, the person would be unable to have a normal bowel movement without the aid of strong laxative support.

For this reason, it is worthwhile to try less invasive measures to normalize bowel function. The obvious suggestions would be sure to have adequate fiber in the diet as well as adequate consumption of fluids, primarily in the form of water. In actuality, few people drink enough water to maintain adequate hydration of the stool mass as it transits the colon. In addition, few people in the Western culture consume enough fiber.

There are several over-the-counter fiber preparations, which are useful. One of them is Citricel, an orange-flavored fiber supplement that mixes easily in juice and is fairly palatable. Other versions are available at your health food store or through mail order sources. These supplements often combine various herbal adjuncts and nutritional ingredients designed to enhance gastrointestinal cellular architecture and colonic cell metabolic function.

Sometimes, the simple inclusion of vitamin C in powder form can be an effective aid in laxation. This treatment would usually be started at a low dose of ¼-½ teaspoon, mixed in juice, and taken twice daily. The dose would be gradually increased over a period of time, to the point where the person would have two to three well-formed stools daily.

The typical side effects of having too high a dose of orally ingested vitamin C include gas, bloating, abdominal cramping, and loose stools. These symptoms resolve as soon as the vitamin C dose is decreased or discontinued. This concept is known as the bowel tolerance level for vitamin C. The effective dose for normalization of bowel function with vitamin C varies from individual to individual (anywhere from one to five teaspoons daily).

There are no side effects, other than the indigestion symptoms noted above, from dosing vitamin C at this high a level. However, it can be an effective modality to improve bowel transit time, decreasing the overall symptomatology of chronic constipation.

Dale Guyer, M.D.