How Much Vitamin C? 

For most people, vitamin C deficiency isn't an issue. A healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables should provide all of the dietary vitamin C necessary to prevent scurvy, repair tissue and bone, and absorb iron. However, vitamin C intake may need to be supplemented for certain diets and populations. 

The National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements lists recommendations for daily vitamin C intake for different childhood age groups: 

• infants 0-6 months old -- 40 mg;
• infants 7-12 months old -- 50 mg;
• toddlers 1-3 years old -- 15 mg;
• children 4-8 years old -- 25 mg;
• children 9-13 years old -- 45 mg;
• male teens 14-18 years old -- 75 mg; and
• female teens 14-18 years old -- 65 mg. 

Men should strive to consume 90 mg of vitamin C per day, and women should aim for 75 mg. Pregnant women need a little more -- 85 mg -- for optimal health, and breastfeeding women should consume 120 mg of natural vitamin C to support their own health and their newborn infant's dietary needs.