Compare vitamin C tablets, powders and liposomal products on what you actually get: the amount of vitamin C per daily dose and the cost per day. The NHS says adults need 40mg a day and most people get it from food, while many tablets contain 1,000mg, so we show you how to read the label before you buy.
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How much vitamin C do you need a day?
The NHS says adults aged 19 to 64 need 40mg of vitamin C a day, and that you should be able to get all the vitamin C you need from your daily diet. Vitamin C cannot be stored in the body, so you need it in your diet every day.
It is found in a wide variety of fruit and vegetables, including citrus fruit, peppers, strawberries, blackcurrants, broccoli, brussels sprouts and potatoes. A supplement adds to what you already eat.
What do 500mg and 1,000mg mean on a vitamin C label?
They are the amount of vitamin C in each daily dose, and many tablets contain far more than the NHS daily amount. The NRV (Nutrient Reference Value) for vitamin C is 80mg, so a 1,000mg tablet shows as 1,250% NRV.
| Vitamin C per daily dose | %NRV | How it compares with NHS advice |
|---|---|---|
| 40mg | 50% | The daily amount for adults aged 19 to 64 |
| 80mg | 100% | Twice the NHS daily amount |
| 200mg | 250% | The amount needed for the authorised exercise claim (see below) |
| 500mg | 625% | More than 12 times the NHS daily amount |
| 1,000mg | 1,250% | The NHS says less than this a day from supplements is unlikely to cause harm |
"Some supplements advertise 1,000% or more of the Nutrient Reference Value, making them appear more powerful," says Andy Arshad, who runs SupplementHQ. "But a higher dose doesn't automatically mean better results, and in some cases, excessive intake can be harmful." Our guide to reading a supplement label explains %NRV in more detail.
Can you take too much vitamin C?
Yes. The NHS says taking large amounts (more than 1,000mg per day) of vitamin C can cause stomach pain, diarrhoea and flatulence, and that these symptoms should stop once you stop taking the supplements. Taking less than 1,000mg a day from supplements is unlikely to cause any harm.
Vitamin C turns up in many products besides plain vitamin C, including multivitamins, collagen drinks and powders, and some creatine and MSM products in this collection. Add up the amount across everything you take, and speak to your GP or pharmacist first if you have a medical condition or take medication.
What does vitamin C do?
Vitamin C has a number of authorised health claims, which can be used where a product is at least a source of vitamin C. They include "Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system", "Vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin", "Vitamin C contributes to the reduction of tiredness and fatigue" and "Vitamin C increases iron absorption".
One claim has a stricter condition: "Vitamin C contributes to maintain the normal function of the immune system during and after intense physical exercise" may only be used for products providing 200mg of vitamin C a day, in addition to the recommended daily intake of vitamin C. These claims describe a normal function. They don't mean more vitamin C does more.
Does vitamin C help with colds?
The NHS says there's little evidence that supplements such as vitamin C, echinacea or garlic stop you catching a cold or help you get better more quickly. We don't sell vitamin C as a cold remedy.
"Where evidence is limited or inconclusive, we should say so openly," says Andy.
Why is vitamin C added to collagen?
Because one of the authorised claims is that vitamin C contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin, bones, cartilage, gums, teeth and blood vessels. That claim is about vitamin C, not the collagen in the product.
Many products in this collection are collagen powders, liquids and gummies with added vitamin C. Compare them on the collagen per serving as well as the vitamin C, or browse collagen directly.
Tablets, powder or liposomal vitamin C?
Choose the format you'll actually take, then compare the vitamin C per daily dose and the cost per day. This collection includes 1,000mg tablets, tablets with bioflavonoids, vitamin C powders and liposomal vitamin C.
Liposomal products, where the vitamin C is wrapped in tiny fat-based bubbles, are marketed on absorption and usually cost more per milligram. Powders are often the lowest cost per gram, but you'll need to measure them. Bioflavonoids are plant compounds added to some products; there is no authorised health claim for them.
How do you compare value on vitamin C?
Work out the cost per daily dose, and check the vitamin C in that dose. A cheap tablet that contains less, or a powder with a large scoop, can change the picture.
How to compare value (example figures, not real products): a £7 tub of 100 tablets, each 1,000mg, costs 7p a day. A £10 tub of 200g powder with a 1g scoop providing 1,000mg gives 200 servings at 5p a day. A £20 pot of 60 liposomal capsules, two a day for 1,000mg, lasts 30 days at about 67p a day.
Which is the best vitamin C supplement?
The best one for you gives the amount you're looking for, in a format you'll take, at a sensible cost per day, without taking you over 1,000mg a day from supplements. A bigger number on the label isn't automatically better.
Most people can get enough vitamin C from food, so if you're unsure whether you need a supplement, our guide to what supplements you actually need is a good place to start, or go back to all vitamins & supplements.
We sell the products on this page. That's our commercial interest, and it's why we show the evidence alongside them. This page is general information for adults, not personalised medical advice. Food supplements should not replace a varied, balanced diet.
Written by Andy Arshad, SupplementHQ. Last reviewed 11 October 2026.