Now Foods C-1000 - Vitamin C 1000mg Capsules with Bioflavonoids

What is Now Foods C-1000?

It is a vitamin C supplement in vegetable capsules, dosed at 1,000 mg per capsule, to which are added 100 mg of citrus bioflavonoids. One capsule a day is the whole of the dosage.

The vitamin C here is in the form of ascorbic acid, obtained by fermentation according to the manufacturer. The rest of the composition fits in four lines: microcrystalline cellulose as a bulking agent, hypromellose for the capsule, magnesium stearate of vegetable origin and silicon dioxide as anti-caking agents.

Because the capsule is made of hypromellose rather than gelatine, the formula is suitable for vegetarians and vegans. The manufacturer also declares it free from gluten, soya, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, nuts, artificial colouring and preservatives. The rest of the American range is in our Now Foods section, and the whole category in vitamin C.

What does one capsule contain?

NRV for vitamin C within the meaning of Regulation 1169/2011: 80 mg. The number of capsules per bottle does not appear in the labelling data supplied to us: check it on the packaging to work out how long your course will last.

A thousand milligrams is twelve and a half times the European reference value, and that gap needs explaining. The 80 mg NRV corresponds to what prevents deficiency, not to an optimum: it is a regulatory floor, reached by two kiwis. Formats at 1 g follow a different logic, that of occasional use over winter or during a heavy training block.

Is more better? No, and the manufacturer says as much in its own way: at high doses, mild digestive upset is common — nausea, loose stools — and the instruction is then to cut back. Vitamin C is water-soluble: beyond a certain threshold, the excess leaves in the urine. A gram a day is a defensible choice, two grams is not.

The regulatory wordings available are numerous and solid, the dose being well above the threshold of 15% of the NRV. Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system, to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue, to normal energy-yielding metabolism, to the protection of cells from oxidative stress, to the normal function of the nervous system, to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin, bones, cartilage, teeth and gums, and increases iron absorption. Those are the exact formulations, and they are more than enough.

On the 100 mg of bioflavonoids, by contrast, let us be clear: no health claim is authorised in Europe for these compounds, and nothing allows anyone to state that they improve the absorption of vitamin C. We mention them because they appear on the label, without attributing any effect to them.

How should C-1000 be taken?

Dose: 1 capsule, that is 1,000 mg. Fluid: a large glass of water. Timing: in the morning, with breakfast. Frequency: one serving a day. Duration: a course of 1 to 3 months, particularly in winter.

The “with food” instruction is no trifle at this dose. A gram of ascorbic acid on an empty stomach is acid in an empty stomach, and some people definitely feel it go down. Taking the capsule in the middle of breakfast settles the matter at no cost. The manufacturer also asks that you do not chew the capsule, for the same reason.

One tip that has a regulatory basis, not merely an empirical one: take it at the same time as a meal rich in plant iron — lentils, spinach, tofu. “Vitamin C increases iron absorption” is an authorised claim, and it is one of the few established synergies in this section. If you are also taking a supplement from our iron section, the same logic applies.

The manufacturer finally advises leaving two hours between it and any medicine. Over a three-month course, do not look for an immediate effect: vitamin C corrects a status, it does not produce a sensation.

Who is C-1000 for, and who is it not for?

It is for adults only and is particularly suitable over winter, during a heavy training block, or when the diet supplies few fresh fruits and vegetables. It also suits vegetarians and vegans, the capsule being plant-based and the formula free from animal ingredients.

Two precautions really matter. In case of kidney disease, medical advice is required: at high doses, vitamin C increases oxalate excretion, which is not a neutral matter in someone prone to stones. And in case of anticoagulant treatment, the manufacturer flags possible interactions to raise with your doctor. In case of pregnancy or breastfeeding, consult before starting.

It suits you less well if your stomach is sensitive: a thousand milligrams of acid in one serving is harder to tolerate than a split dose. In that case, a 500 mg vitamin C taken twice, or a more moderate multivitamin, will be more comfortable.

What not to expect from it, and this is the most useful sentence on this page: vitamin C does not prevent the common cold. No claim of that kind is authorised, and “contributing to the normal function of the immune system” does not mean stopping an infection. Nor is it a performance product: in someone whose status is normal, an extra gram improves nothing that has been demonstrated.

High-dose vitamin C or a multivitamin?

That is the real choice in this section, and it depends on how precise your need is.

A multivitamin generally supplies 60 to 120 mg of vitamin C, alongside twenty or so other nutrients. It is the better choice if your diet is patchy across micronutrients as a whole and you are after a general safety net. One bottle, one serving, and you leave nothing at zero.

C-1000 does the opposite: a single nutrient, dosed ten times higher. It is the right choice if you are targeting vitamin C precisely — winter, a diet low in fresh fruit, or pairing with an iron intake. It also pairs sensibly with our collagen section, vitamin C being the only nutrient with an authorised wording mentioning normal collagen formation.

The trap to avoid is blind stacking: adding up a multivitamin, a high-dose vitamin C and a fortified drink easily takes you beyond 1.5 g a day, with loose stools as the only result. In winter, if you are to add just one targeted supplement, our vitamin D section often answers a better-documented need at our latitudes.

Frequently asked questions

Isn't 1,000 mg far too much?

It is twelve and a half times the reference value of 80 mg, which is an anti-deficiency floor and not an optimum. A gram a day is a defensible choice over winter. Beyond that, the excess leaves in the urine and digestive upset becomes common — the manufacturer itself advises cutting back in that case.

What are the bioflavonoids for?

They are compounds extracted from citrus fruit, added at 100 mg. No health claim is authorised for them in Europe, and nothing allows anyone to state that they improve the absorption of vitamin C. We mention them because they appear on the label, not as a selling point.

Does vitamin C protect against colds?

No, and no claim of that kind is authorised. The permitted wording is “contributes to the normal function of the immune system”, which is not the same thing as stopping an infection. It is the most persistent belief in this section, and it rests on nothing recognised.

Should it be taken on an empty stomach or with food?

With food. A gram of ascorbic acid in an empty stomach causes nausea in some people, and the manufacturer also asks that you do not chew the capsule. Taking it at breakfast has a further advantage: it improves the absorption of the iron in the meal.

Can it be taken in case of kidney stones?

Not without medical advice: that is the manufacturer's explicit precaution. At high doses, vitamin C increases urinary oxalate excretion, which counts in someone prone to oxalate stones. This question is one for your doctor.

Are the capsules suitable for vegans?

Yes. The shell is made of hypromellose, a modified cellulose of vegetable origin, and the magnesium stearate is likewise plant-based. The manufacturer declares the formula free from gluten, soya, milk, egg, fish, shellfish and nuts.

How long does a course last?

The manufacturer settles on a course of 1 to 3 months, particularly over winter. The number of capsules per bottle does not appear in our labelling data, so check it on the packaging to know how many bottles to order.

Where to buy Now Foods C-1000?

The bottle can be ordered from this page, and we ship throughout France and Europe. For most of our customers it is a winter product: one capsule a day from October to March, then the bottle goes back in the cupboard.

At the Vendargues shop, about ten minutes from Montpellier, the question we ask in front of this section is the one about stacking: what are you already taking? Between a multivitamin, a fortified drink and this capsule, you go past a gram and a half without noticing, and the only consequence is a trip to the toilet. The rest of the micronutrients can be compared in our sports nutrition section.