In general, vitamin C is nontoxic. Oral ascorbic acid may be administered to most laboratory animals at doses of several grams per kilogram of body weight without any obvious general effect on health (NRC, 1987). Male guinea pigs fed 8.7% ascorbic acid for six weeks had decreased bone density and decreased urinary hydroxyproline compared to controls (Bray and Briggs, 1984). Data are unavailable on tolerance and toxicity of ascorbic acid for ruminants. It would appear to be extremely difficult to produce vitamin C toxicity from dietary sources in ruminants, due to the apparent rumen destruction of the vitamin.
