Does Vitamin C Increase Estrogen Levels?
Medically Reviewed By Margaret Etudo, BPharm. Written By The Vitamins For Woman Team.
Specific vitamins and minerals, like vitamin C, support hormonal balance and overall health. Research shows that the powerful antioxidant vitamin C increases estrogen levels in many women.
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Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin that your body needs to function properly. Your body uses it to form collagen, repair bone, skin, and connective tissues, strengthen blood vessels, and heal wounds and burns.
The link between this powerful antioxidant, vitamin C, and hormonal balance is evident. Vitamin C not only supports immune function but is also one of the best female hormone vitamins. Vitamin C supports the production of estrogen and progesterone, which regulate your menstrual cycle and overall reproductive health.
Now, let’s explore how to balance hormones naturally, focusing on how vitamin C increases estrogen.
A Brief Overview of Estrogen
Before we explain the link between vitamin C and estrogen levels, let’s examine this vital hormone briefly.
Estrogen is the primary steroid sex hormone produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands in women. It comes in three primary forms – estrone, estradiol and estriol.
- Estrone (E1) is the primary form of estrogen found in the body after menopause. It is a weaker form that is converted to other forms when necessary.
- Estradiol (E2): This is the most potent form of estrogen found in the body during reproductive years. It is also the most common form used for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the treatment of menopause symptoms.
- Estriol (E3) is the form of estrogen found in pregnancy. It helps the uterus grow and prepares the body for delivery.
Estrogen levels fluctuate throughout a woman’s life, especially during puberty, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause. As a result, it might be a bit hard to maintain a healthy balance of estrogen and other hormones—progesterone and testosterone. Stress, diet, and age also affect the production of estrogen.
Vitamin C can be helpful if you are wondering how to balance hormones naturally.
Vitamin C to Increase Estrogen Levels: How It Works
The growing research shows a significant connection between Vitamin C and estrogen levels in women. So, how does vitamin C increase estrogen levels? This can be attributed to its role in the production of hormones and its antioxidant properties.
Vitamin C acts as a co-factor for enzymes involved in estrogen production. It activates 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD) and promotes the conversion of estradiol, the most potent form, into estrone, a weaker form of estrogen. This conversion maintains healthy levels of active estrogen and balances the different forms of estrogen in the body. Decreased estrogen dominance will help regulate your menstrual cycle, increase fertility, and boost your hormonal balance.
Additionally, Vitamin C acts as a potent antioxidant. These protect reproductive cells from damage and neutralize the effects of free radicals. They also reduce oxidative stress and support hormone balance.
Its antioxidant activity also stimulates the release of special chemicals – gonadotrophins from adenohypophysis- which help protect the tissue of the endometrium, the lining in your uterus. According to a study on women with endometriosis, taking vitamins C and E reduced the pain and inflammation in 43% of them. The endometrial thickness may also increase due to the role of vitamin C as a cofactor in collagen production.
Recent studies on how vitamin C increases estrogen are straightforward and promising. However, more research is needed to fully understand the mechanism of action.
Other Ways Vitamin C Can Balance Your Hormones
Apart from how it boosts estrogen levels, there is a potential association between Vitamin C and hormones. Here is how to balance your hormones naturally with vitamin C:
Vitamin C Can Increase Progesterone Levels
Progesterone is one of the female sex hormones made during ovulation. It maintains a healthy menstrual cycle and prepares the uterine lining for pregnancy. Women with PCOS usually have low progesterone levels.
Vitamin C boosts serum progesterone levels and also increases fertility. A study showed that 750 mg of Vitamin C given to women who were trying to conceive increased their progesterone levels. It also boosts the health of eggs, protecting them from oxidative stress and enhancing the integrity of the follicles in the ovaries.
Vitamin C Regulates Stress Hormones
Stress and anxiety destabilize your body and disrupt hormone levels. Your body requires vitamin C to produce catecholamines – hormones your adrenal glands make. These hormones include cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, dopamine, norepinephrine, and adrenaline). Vitamin C regulates cortisol levels and hinders the effect of chronic stress on hormone balance.
Studies have proven that vitamin C is one of the female hormone vitamins you need in your health journey. Vitamin C deficiency contributes to irregular menstrual cycles, decreased fertility, and increased risk of reproductive conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis. It also affects your body’s ability to manage stress and worsen symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
What Form of Vitamin C is Best to Consume?
There are about five forms of vitamin C usually found in supplements.
Ascorbic Acid
This is the most common and cost-effective form of vitamin C. It is readily available and occurs naturally in vitamin C-rich foods. Ascorbic acid exists in synthetic form.
Sodium Ascorbate
This is the sodium salt form of L-ascorbic acid. It is one of the most commonly used forms of Vitamin C in clinical research. 1,000 mg of sodium ascorbate would typically contain 111 mg of sodium and can increase sodium intake. It is a less acidic or buffered form of ascorbic acid. No significant scientific evidence shows that it affects how the body absorbs it.
Calcium ascorbate
Like sodium ascorbate, calcium ascorbate is a mineral ascorbate. It is the calcium salt form of L-ascorbic acid. Calcium ascorbate provides calcium alongside vitamin C in supplements. Each 1,000 mg of calcium ascorbate contains 90-110 mg of calcium and 890-910 mg of ascorbic acid. Calcium in this form is reasonably well absorbed.
Other mineral ascorbates
They are more likely to be combined with other mineral ascorbates—sodium ascorbate and calcium ascorbate—and other minerals in supplements. These include potassium ascorbates, magnesium ascorbates, zinc ascorbates, manganese ascorbates, molybdenum ascorbates, and chromium ascorbates.
Ascorbic acid with bioflavonoids
Flavonoids are compounds found in plants that give them their color. Fruits and vegetables rich in vitamin C, especially citrus fruit, also contain flavonoids. Studies show no noticeable difference between the bioavailability of ascorbic acid alone and vitamin C in flavonoid-containing foods.
Ester-C
This is a combination product. It mainly contains calcium ascorbate and small amounts of vitamin C metabolites, dehydroascorbic acid (oxidized ascorbic acid), calcium threonate, and trace amounts of xylonate and lyxonate. The metabolites, especially threonate, are believed to increase the bioavailability of vitamin C in this form. However, there is not enough evidence to support this claim.
The best forms to consume are ascorbic acid and sodium ascorbate. They are both effective in supporting the regulation and production of hormones. Sodium ascorbate may be gentler on the stomach, especially for women with sensitive stomachs.
Food Sources of Vitamin C
Taking supplements is a convenient way to increase your vitamin C levels. If you are wondering how to balance hormones naturally, whole foods are your best bet. Some vitamin C-rich foods you can incorporate into your diet include:
- Oranges
- Lemons
- Grapefruit
- Guavas
- Berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
- Grapes
- Mangoes
- Pineapple
- Cabbage
- Broccoli
- Red bell peppers
- Tomatoes
- Potatoes
How Much Vitamin C Should You Take?
The daily requirement of vitamin C varies based on age. The recommended daily amount for vitamin C is 75 milligrams (mg) daily for women 19 years and older. 120 mg is the daily recommendation for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Vitamin C is generally safe and may not cause serious adverse effects when taken in high amounts. Most vitamin C supplements contain 500-1000 mg per serving, but you can start with a low dose and gradually increase it to see how much your body can handle.
While taking higher doses can boost hormonal levels, exceeding the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) of 2,000mg per day is not advisable. Overconsumption of vitamin C can cause diarrhea, nausea, stomach upset, and other digestive disturbances.
You can consult your doctor to determine the optimal dosage for your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no clear evidence to show that recommended doses of vitamin C can cause or increase the risk of miscarriage. However, it is essential to consult your primary healthcare provider before taking any supplements, especially if you are pregnant or trying to conceive.
As mentioned earlier, vitamin C supplements are generally considered safe. However, consuming high amounts can cause side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach upset.
Yes, you can. Adding fruits and vegetables to your diet is the best way to get your daily dose of vitamin C. However, stress, smoking, and underlying medical conditions can affect how much vitamin C your body needs.
Final Thoughts For You
If you are struggling with hormonal imbalance or simply want to boost overall hormonal health, vitamin C can be a valuable addition to your diet. Like we’ve explored, it plays a vital role in hormone production and regulation, making it one of the best female hormone vitamins.
Remember, while supplements can be helpful, you can eat foods rich in vitamin C to balance hormones naturally. Consult your healthcare provider to determine the right dosage you need.
- National Institiute of Health. Office of Dietary supplements: Vitamin C.
- Chambial S, Dwivedi S, Shukla KK, John PJ, Sharma P. Vitamin c in disease prevention and cure: an overview. Indian J Clin Biochem. 2013;28(4):314-328.
- Delgado BJ, Lopez-Ojeda W. Estrogen. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2024.
- Hariri L, Rehman A. Estradiol. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2024.
- McSorley PT, Young IS, Bell PM, Fee JPH, McCance DR. Vitamin C improves endothelial function in healthy estrogen-deficient postmenopausal women. Climacteric. 2003;6(3):238-247.
- Hu J, Zhang Z, Shen WJ, Azhar S. Cellular cholesterol delivery, intracellular processing and utilization for biosynthesis of steroid hormones. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2010;7:47.
- Padayatty SJ, Katz A, Wang Y, et al. Vitamin C as an antioxidant: evaluation of its role in disease prevention. J Am Coll Nutr. 2003;22(1):18-35.
- Karanth S, Yu WH, Walczewska A, Mastronardi CA, McCann SM. Ascorbic acid stimulates gonadotropin release by autocrine action by means of NO. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2001;98(20):11783-11788.
- Santanam N, Kavtaradze N, Murphy A, Dominguez C, Parthasarathy S. Antioxidant supplementation reduces endometriosis related pelvic pain in humans. Transl Res. 2013;161(3):189-195.
- Henmi H, Endo T, Kitajima Y, Manase K, Hata H, Kudo R. Effects of ascorbic acid supplementation on serum progesterone levels in patients with a luteal phase defect. Fertil Steril. 2003;80(2):459-461.
medically reviewed by margaret etudo, BPharm. written by the vitamins for woman team.
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Hey Vitamins For Woman, I’m curious, can vitamin C really help with balancing estrogen levels? Never thought vitamins could play such a role.
Absolutely, MaggieSue! Vitamin C aids in the synthesis of estrogen and can indeed help in balancing hormones. Always fascinating how nutrients impact our body.
kinda cool that vitamin C can do more than just fight colds. who knew?
Hmm, vitamins changing hormone levels? sounds like more internet myth than fact to me.
Interesting read! I’m always on the lookout for natural ways to boost recovery, and hormone balance is key. Vitamin C just climbed up my list. Thanks for the insights!
This is fascinating. Does the form of Vitamin C consume make a big difference in its effectiveness for hormone balance?
Vitamin C’s role in supporting both estrogen and progesterone is crucial. But remember, balance is key. Too much of anything can tip the scales the wrong way.
While Vit C is important, we shouldn’t ignore the other vitamins and minerals that play a significant role in hormone regulation. It’s all about a well-rounded approach.
Intriguing article but let’s delve deeper. It’d be beneficial to analyze the research on vitamin C’s bioavailability and its direct correlation with hormonal balance indicators.
Love learning about the benefits of vitamin C! Now I have even more reasons to include citrus fruits in my recipes. Healthy and delicious.
It’s one thing to say vitamin C can impact hormone levels, but seeing actual results is different. I’m open to it but need more concrete evidence.
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