According to a recent study, the recommended dose of vitamin C should be doubled.
The scientists behind this claim described the methods of the 1944 study, which still reports today's levels, as "shocking."
Currently, the British NHS (National Health Service) and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend a daily dose of vitamin C of 40 mg and 45 mg respectively.
However, the researchers behind a new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition say the study, conducted by the Sorby Research Institute, was designed to assess the nutritional levels of people in Britain during World War II, when food was scarce.
At the time, the goal was to avoid scurvy, not to maximize health, according to the researchers.
"They were depleting vitamin C levels in humans in a long-term way and creating life-threatening situations. Now that wouldn't work anymore."
As part of the study, participants were assigned either zero, 10, or 70 milligrams of vitamin C daily for about nine months.
During this period, experimental wounds were inflicted on participants, and researchers used "scar strength" as a measure of adequate vitamin C intake, as poor wound healing is an indicator of scurvy.
Professor Hujoel added: "The results of the re-analysis of the Sorba data suggest that the WHO recommendations are too low to prevent scar strength from weakening.
"This dose of vitamin C is more than double the WHO's daily recommendation of 45 mg, but is in line with the recommendations of the National Science Committee and other countries."
According to the NHS, vitamin C, which is also known as ascorbic acid, has three main functions.
These include helping to protect cells and maintain their health, maintaining healthy skin, blood vessels, bones and cartilage, and promoting wound healing.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) told The Independent: "Independent government nutrition experts regularly review new evidence that may indicate that existing recommendations need consideration, but they believe it is not necessary to review vitamin C recommendations at this time."
