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Does Excessive Alcohol Consumption Cause A Drop In Vitamin C?

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Posted on Wed, 15 Jun 2016
Question: Alcohol drinking twice to trice a week in largeish amounts, could it cause low vitamin C? I know I shouldn't, but i'm young and like my beer, so I do it. My MCV was high a year ago, it seemes to have resolved due to taking large vitamin B complex, I had acne, resolved taking zinc. But I've always had things like social anxiety and lower confidence. I read about Vitamin C and how alcohol can effect it from skin and make you low? I've started taking around 1G per day for a week, I feel quite a bit calmer (if not placebo). So, could I be low in it and be benefiting from large doses? (I read vitamin C in large doses was found to dramatically lower cortisol levels in a big study and make heart rate lower. If I was also low in the first place, this might benefit me in higher doses for both reasons? Please advise. Thanks
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Answered by Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (46 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Consultation

Detailed Answer:
Hello, and thanks for your question.

Alcohol has many negative health effects. It can cause anemia with a high MCV. It over time worsens anxiety and disrupts sleep. It is also a central nervous system depressant and can cause depression. However, it does not lower Vitamin C. Vitamin C is not processed through the skin, this is Vitamin D, but alcohol does not affect Vitamin D either. Vitamin C has not in replicated studies shown any meaningful effect on anxiety, which is multifactorial and not simply related to cortisol. You can take Vitamin C if it makes you feel better, but there is no real solid science to back this up.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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Answered by
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Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe

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Practicing since :2014

Answered : 2236 Questions

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Does Excessive Alcohol Consumption Cause A Drop In Vitamin C?

Brief Answer: Consultation Detailed Answer: Hello, and thanks for your question. Alcohol has many negative health effects. It can cause anemia with a high MCV. It over time worsens anxiety and disrupts sleep. It is also a central nervous system depressant and can cause depression. However, it does not lower Vitamin C. Vitamin C is not processed through the skin, this is Vitamin D, but alcohol does not affect Vitamin D either. Vitamin C has not in replicated studies shown any meaningful effect on anxiety, which is multifactorial and not simply related to cortisol. You can take Vitamin C if it makes you feel better, but there is no real solid science to back this up. Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.