Vitamin C in food supplements
21,179 supplements declared in France contain a form of this nutrient
Vitamin C: in France, a food supplement may not provide more than 180 mg a day (Order of 9 May 2006, not revised since November 2006, Annex III). The doses of the 2006 Order have not been revised since the amending Order of 14 November 2006, and some were annulled by the Conseil d'État in 2011; the DGCCRF accepted higher levels for some nutrients through guidelines published until January 2019, and an update of the Order is being prepared (ministerial answer published in the Official Journal on 11 February 2025).
Order of 9 May 2006, Annex III. French orders of 9 May 2006 and 14 November 2006 as published in the Official Journal (maximum daily doses), retrieved 21 October 2026.
EFSA, Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (version 11, August 2025), retrieved 21 October 2026.
Written Question No 2686, ministry answer published in the Official Journal on 11 February 2025.
What we know about this ingredient
Associated research
ClinicalTrials.gov · A trial is not proof: it tests a hypothesis.
- NCT02905578 : A Phase 2 Trial of High-dose Ascorbate for Pancreatic Cancer (PACMAN 2.1)
COMPLETED · PHASE2 · Pancreatic Neoplasms, Cancer of Pancreas, Cancer of the Pancreas, Neoplasms, Pancreatic, Pancreas Cancer, Pancreas Neoplasms, Adenocarcinoma · 2026-07-23 · Pharmacological ascorbate (synonym declared in the registry)
- NCT03418038 : Ascorbic Acid and Chemotherapy for the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Lymphoma, CCUS, and Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia
RECRUITING · PHASE2 · Clonal Cytopenia of Undetermined Significance, High Grade B-Cell Lymphoma With MYC and BCL2 or BCL6 Rearrangements, Recurrent Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, Recurrent Hodgkin Lymphoma, Recurrent Lymphoma, Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, Refractory Lymphoma, Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia · 2026-09-28 · Ascorbic Acid (synonym declared in the registry)
- NCT06789640 : Impact of Vitamin C Supplementation on Hospital Outcomes in Children Undergoing Corrective Heart Surgery for Congenital Heart Diseases
NOT_YET_RECRUITING · NA · Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) · 2025-02-17 · Vitamin C
Searched on 1 November 2026.
In plain words
À quoi il sert, selon les fabricants
Objectifs les plus souvent annoncés pour les compléments qui en contiennent (vitamine C) : immunité (5400 produits), peau (2716 produits), antioxydant (1986 produits), articulations (1558 produits), sport (1529 produits).
Ce sont les objectifs déclarés par les fabricants à l'administration, pas des effets démontrés. Sur l'emballage, seules les allégations de santé autorisées par l'Union peuvent être écrites.
Compl'Alim, food supplement declarations (France), retrieved 23 October 2026.
La règle en France
En France, la dose journalière recommandée d'un complément ne doit pas apporter plus de 180 mg (arrêté du 9 mai 2006, non révisé depuis novembre 2006). Compl'Alim ne publie pas la dose des produits déclarés : comparez celle de l'étiquette à ce plafond et à la limite de sécurité de l'EFSA.European Food Safety Authority.
French orders of 9 May 2006 and 14 November 2006 as published in the Official Journal (maximum daily doses), retrieved 21 October 2026.
EFSA safety references
Le repère de l'EFSA porte sur l'apport total d'une journée, alimentation et compléments.
| Population | Type | Value |
|---|---|---|
| all populations | Upper limit | no limit (insufficient data) |
EFSA NDA Panel, 2004a. EFSA, Overview on Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (version 11, August 2025), retrieved 21 October 2026.
Maximum dose in France
Maximum daily dose per supplement in France: 180 mg, according to the Order of 9 May 2006.
The doses of the 2006 Order have not been revised since the amending Order of 14 November 2006, and some were annulled by the Conseil d'État in 2011; the DGCCRF accepted higher levels for some nutrients through guidelines published until January 2019, and an update of the Order is being prepared (ministerial answer published in the Official Journal on 11 February 2025).
Order of 9 May 2006, Annex III. French orders of 9 May 2006 and 14 November 2006 as published in the Official Journal (maximum daily doses), retrieved 21 October 2026.
Where to find it in food
Selected everyday foods, ranked by decreasing content across all confidence levels. Each value is at least one tenth of the maximum among the foods examined. Content varies with the food and preparation.
| Food | Content | Unit | Ciqual confidence code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackcurrant, raw | 181 | mg | C (moderate) |
| Red pepper, raw | 121 | mg | A (high) |
| Kiwi flesh, without skin, with seeds, raw | 81.9 | mg | A (high) |
| Brussels sprouts, boiled | 55.4 | mg | A (high) |
| Orange flesh, without peel or seeds, raw | 47.5 | mg | A (high) |
| Kale, cooked | 41 | mg | C (moderate) |
| Chicken liver, cooked | 27.9 | mg | C (moderate) |
The Ciqual code indicates confidence in each value: A high, B good, C moderate, D low (a less certain value).
Authorised health claims
- « Vitamin C contributes to maintain the normal function of the immune system during and after intense physical exercise »
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which provides a daily intake of 200 mg vitamin C. In order to bear the claim information shall be given to the consumer that the beneficial effect is obtained with a daily intake of 200 mg in addition to the recommended daily intake of vitamin C. - « Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of blood vessels »
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of vitamin C as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. - « Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of bones »
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of vitamin C as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. - « Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of cartilage »
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of vitamin C as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. - « Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of gums »
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of vitamin C as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. - « Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin »
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of vitamin C as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. - « Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of teeth »
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of vitamin C as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. - « Vitamin C contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism »
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of vitamin C as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. - « Vitamin C contributes to normal functioning of the nervous system »
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of vitamin C as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. - « Vitamin C contributes to normal psychological function »
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of vitamin C as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. - « Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system »
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of vitamin C as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. - « Vitamin C contributes to the protection of cells from oxidative stress »
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of vitamin C as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006 - « Vitamin C contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue »
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of vitamin C as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. - « Vitamin C contributes to the regeneration of the reduced form of vitamin E »
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of vitamin C as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006. - « Vitamin C increases iron absorption »
Conditions: The claim may be used only for food which is at least a source of vitamin C as referred to in the claim SOURCE OF [NAME OF VITAMIN/S] AND/OR [NAME OF MINERAL/S] as listed in the Annex to Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
4 refused or revoked claims: they cannot appear on packaging
- « Acts as free radical scavenger. Renders free radicals harmless »
Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, the evidence provided is insufficient to substantiate this claimed effect for this food. - « Necessary to maintain energy and general vitality »
Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food is not sufficiently defined to be able to be assessed and the claim could not therefore be substantiated. - « Promotes lutein / zeaxanthin function »
Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, this claimed effect for this food has not been substantiated. - « Protects the eye from oxidative and photo-oxidative stress Protects the eye Antioxidant vitamin C, is associated with the health of the retina and lens, which can be damaged over the years by free radical damage e.g. caused by sunlight, smoke & pollution »
Reason: Non-compliance with the Regulation because on the basis of the scientific evidence assessed, the evidence provided is insufficient to substantiate this claimed effect for this food.
Official English text, as entered in the Union register. A claim may only be used under its conditions.
15 authorised claims, 4 refused or revoked. EU Register of nutrition and health claims, retrieved 21 October 2026.
Forms declared in supplements
Union list: vitamin and mineral forms that may be used in a food supplement (Directive 2002/46/EC, Annex II).
Directive 2002/46/EC on food supplements, latest consolidated version (Annex II: forms of vitamins and minerals), retrieved 23 October 2026, source updated 26 November 2025.
- Acide L-ascorbique 15,834 products on the Union list
- 6-palmitate de L-ascorbyl 4,049 products on the Union list
- L-ascorbate de calcium 819 products on the Union list
- L-ascorbate de sodium 710 products on the Union list
- L-ascorbate de magnésium 187 products on the Union list
- L-ascorbate de potassium 53 products on the Union list
- L-ascorbate de zinc 51 products on the Union list
- Ascorbate de manganèse 10 products on the Union list
In cosmetics: ASCORBIC ACID.
Products containing it
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