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Is Allergy To Vitamin C Possible?

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Posted on Mon, 27 Oct 2014
Question: Is there such a thing as a Vitamin C allergy? I have a new friend (middle aged female) who claims to have this as well as many food dislikes. She claims to not be able to eat most fruits and vegetables. She says her last allergist (years ago) only promoted shots and therefore she has refused to return. I am a lifelong allergic person, having gone through desensitization shots for > 8 years. I have never heard of her "allergy" . Is she just making excuses for eating things she dislikes. She is sick looking with unbelieveably thinning hair and poor complexion. She also doesn't eat pork ,seafood or chicken. I am a retired 32 years, RN and have long been aware of allergies and testing. She takes no antihistamine, other than a rare p.o. Benedryl, which I believe is not the most effective drug for an allergic reactions. Is this woman for real?
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Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (46 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
I have not come across such allergy.

Detailed Answer:
Hi Mzabliski,

I am seeing so many allergy patients in daily OPD but I have not come across vit C allergy.
There are food related allergies present but not of specific vitamin and that too vit c, which is water soluble and least harmful.
Since you are describing your friend as very thin, lusterless skin, thin hair etc I would like to give you few differentials.
1. Anorexia nervousa
2. Mal Absorption Syndrome.(MAS)
Anorexia nervousa is psychiatric disorder in which patient starves herself due to excessive desire of weight loss or be more thin and look like celebrities.
MAS is gastrointestinal disease in which absorption of nutrients are not possible and thus nutritional deficiency occurs.
So I don't think she has vit c allergy. Above mentioned things need to rule out first.

Hope I have answered your query. I will be happy to help you further.

Wishing good health to your friend.

Thanks.
Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
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Answered by
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Dr. Drkaushal85

Pulmonologist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 15005 Questions

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Is Allergy To Vitamin C Possible?

Brief Answer: I have not come across such allergy. Detailed Answer: Hi Mzabliski, I am seeing so many allergy patients in daily OPD but I have not come across vit C allergy. There are food related allergies present but not of specific vitamin and that too vit c, which is water soluble and least harmful. Since you are describing your friend as very thin, lusterless skin, thin hair etc I would like to give you few differentials. 1. Anorexia nervousa 2. Mal Absorption Syndrome.(MAS) Anorexia nervousa is psychiatric disorder in which patient starves herself due to excessive desire of weight loss or be more thin and look like celebrities. MAS is gastrointestinal disease in which absorption of nutrients are not possible and thus nutritional deficiency occurs. So I don't think she has vit c allergy. Above mentioned things need to rule out first. Hope I have answered your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your friend. Thanks.