NutriStack
Combined Oral Contraceptive and Vitamin C, a synergy.
Combined oral contraceptives lower plasma and platelet vitamin C levels and increase oxidative stress, partly because estrogen induces hepatic enzymes that increase vitamin C turnover. Modest daily supplementation restores levels and antioxidant capacity.
One pair, every claim cited. The two substances, the type, the mechanism, the recommendation, and the primary literature.
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At a glance
- Substances
- Combined Oral Contraceptive and Vitamin C
- Pair type
- Synergy
- Evidence (highest tier)
- Moderate
- Source citations
- 2 sources
- Stack Score effect
- +2 to your Stack Score (per scored synergy row).
- Scope
- Supplement × Prescription
- Last verified
- May 30, 2026
Synergy · Moderate evidence
Synergy
What is happening. Combined oral contraceptives lower plasma and platelet vitamin C levels and increase oxidative stress, partly because estrogen induces hepatic enzymes that increase vitamin C turnover. Modest daily supplementation restores levels and antioxidant capacity.
Mechanism. Estrogens upregulate hepatic enzymes and oxidative pathways that increase ascorbate consumption. Vitamin C also competes with ethinyl estradiol for sulfate conjugation at high doses, briefly raising estrogen levels.
Recommendation. A daily multivitamin or 250-500 mg vitamin C is reasonable for women on combined oral contraception. Avoid very high doses (above 1000 mg/day) at the same time as the pill, since vitamin C may transiently raise ethinyl estradiol levels.
Sources (2)
- Palmery M, Saraceno A, Vaiarelli A, Carlomagno G. Oral contraceptives and changes in nutritional requirements. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2013;17(13):1804-13. PMID 23852908
- Basciani S, Porcaro G. Counteracting side effects of combined oral contraceptives through the administration of specific micronutrients. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2022;26(13):4846-4862. PMID 35856377
Stack Score
How this pair moves the number.
Effect on the composite score
If both Combined Oral Contraceptive and Vitamin C are in the same stack, this pair applies +2 to your Stack Score (per scored synergy row).
The full algorithm, the clamping rules, and four worked stacks are documented at /methodology/stack-score.
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