The NHS has urged people to see thier GP if you are worried
Some vitamins and minerals can be found in your everyday foods(Image: georgeclerk via Getty Images)
If you are randomly getting stomach pains, it’s normal to be worried. Many people will Google their symptoms, and of course, the worst health issues will come up, making people panic even more.
But there’s a little-known, completely benign issue that could be causing stomach pain. For example, the NHS says that it could be vitamins and minerals at play.
It notes that Vitamin C is just one tablet that could cause stomach pain if you take too much. Also known as ascorbic acid, it can be found in many everyday foods, with good sources including oranges, peppers, strawberries, blackcurrants, broccoli, brussels sprouts and potatoes.
If you’re getting enough in your diet, you may not need supplements. But if you do consume them, the NHS says that “adults aged 19 to 64 need 40mg of vitamin C a day.”
It warns: “Vitamin C cannot be stored in the body, so you need it in your diet every day.” But if you take too much, more than 1,000mg per day, it can cause:
- stomach pain
- diarrhoea
- flatulence
It adds: “These symptoms should disappear once you stop taking vitamin C supplements.” Vitamin C is not the only supplement that could cause stomach issues.
The health service also notes that calcium, potassium, copper, and molybdenum can cause stomach pain. If you take iron, it also notes that side effects of taking high doses (over 20mg) of iron include:
- constipation
- feeling sick
- being sick
- stomach pain
It warns: “Very high doses of iron can be fatal, particularly if taken by children, so always keep iron supplements out of the reach of children.”
I have stomach pain, but I am not taking any supplements. What could be causing my pain?
If you have pain anywhere in your body, even if you are taking supplements, you should always talk to your GP to be on the safe side. You should never assume supplements are causing the issue.
The NHS suggests that stomach pain could be caused by a number of reasons, such as flatulence, food poisoning, indigestion, and constipation. Other conditions that can cause stomach pain include endometriosis, adenoymyosis, IBS, appendicitis, gallstones and kidney stones.
Experts at Cancer Research UK further note that stomach pain could be a sign of cancer. The most common symptoms of stomach cancer include:
- difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- unexplained weight loss
- tummy pain
- indigestion (dyspepsia) that doesn’t go away
- feeling full after eating small amounts
- a loss of appetite
- feeling or being sick
- dark poo
- tiredness due to low levels of red blood cells (anaemia)
You can read the NHS advice on stomach ache here, where it lists when to see your GP and when you should call 111 or 999.
