I had a m/c 3 weeks ago, and the doctor said if I plan on trying to conceive I should start taking folic acid a month before. The nurse I spoke with today said it's okay for me to start taking it now that if I take too much folic acid I'll just pee it out.
Then I heard something on TV poking fun at someone who took too much folic acid, and the kid turned into a leech of some sort.
Is there such thing as too much folic acid? How would I know? Could it harm to potential baby?
To my understanding the only vitamins that can actually cause a problem if you take too much are the fat soluable ones A,E,D,&K any of the B vitamins and C you will pee out however I know some of them can change your skin tones if taken in large quantities.
The largest single dosage pill of folic acid you can get OTC is 1mg.
I have to take this, in addition to my prenatals bc of a genetic disorder where my body doesn't process folate. Supposedly too much for a normal person (without a folate issue) it can increase your risk for certain cancers, but I don't see anything about it harming the baby or potential baby.
I've never heard of too much folic acid. Ask your doc of course if your truly concerned, but I was never cautioned about too much...I was advised left and right to get as much folic acid I could get.
I forgot to add my doctor prescribed me folic acid. Wasn't sure if I should fill it or not.
What Folic acid causing cancer!?!?! Where did you get that research from? Folic acid can prevent cancer not cause it
Quoting KT9105:
The largest single dosage pill of folic acid you can get OTC is 1mg.
I have to take this, in addition to my prenatals bc of a genetic disorder where my body doesn't process folate. Supposedly too much for a normal person (without a folate issue) it can increase your risk for certain cancers, but I don't see anything about it harming the baby or potential baby.
I know the prenatal vitamins that I take now are good for before, during and after your baby they have the recommended dosage for a women that is conceiving so there should be no fear of overdosing on it. They contain 400 micrograms of folic acid.
what are they called?
Quoting LisaTu:
I know the prenatal vitamins that I take now are good for before, during and after your baby they have the recommended dosage for a women that is conceiving so there should be no fear of overdosing on it. They contain 400 micrograms of folic acid.
Folic Acid and Pregnancy
Every year, about 3,000 infants are born with neural tube defects (NTDs), according to the CDC. These defects include spina bifida and anencephaly, a condition in which the brain is not properly formed or is at least partly missing. Children who survive are often left paralyzed for life.
NTDs are preventable if mothers-to-be take folic acid before and during their pregnancy. Thanks to better screening, public health information campaigns, and folic acid fortification of breads and other grain products, the incidence of NTDs has dropped in recent years.
Folic Acid?
Folic Acid -- also called folate -- is a B vitamin. It plays a role in cell production and division -- including the production of red blood cells. It's found in foods, fortified cereals and other grain products, as well as in vitamin supplements.
What Are the Benefits of Folic Acid?
In the fetus, folic acid helps the neural tube, which develops into the brain and spinal cord, grow. Without folic acid, the neural tube may not close correctly. The baby can develop spina bifida -- a condition in which the spinal cord and/or a sac filled with fluid protrude through an opening in the back -- or anencephaly. Babies with anencephaly usually do not live long, and those with spina bifida may be permanently disabled.
Folic acid can reduce the incidence of NTDs by as much as 70%, according to the CDC. Research has also found that, when taken before and during pregnancy, folic acid may also protect against other birth defects, including:
- Cleft lip and palate. In one study, women who took multivitamins, got at least 400 mcg of folic acid daily, and ate a healthy diet had the lowest risk of delivering a child with an opening in the lip (cleft lip).
- Pregnancy complications. One report found that women who took folic acid supplements during the second trimester had a reduced risk of pregnancy-induced high blood pressure -- a serious condition known as preeclampsia.
- Premature birth. A study found that women who took folic acid for at least a year before getting pregnant cut their chances of delivering early by 50 percent or more.
- Low birth weight.
- Miscarriage.
- Poor growth in the womb.
In addition to protecting your baby from birth defects, folic acid could also protect your own health. Studies show it might lower the risks of heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancers. Folic acid might even help ward off Alzheimer's disease.
When Should I Start Taking Folic Acid?
Because many pregnancies aren't planned, it's important for every woman of childbearing age to take folic acid, even if they aren't trying to conceive. Birth defects occur within the first three to four weeks of pregnancy, so it's important to have folic acid in your system during those early stages when your baby's brain and spinal cord are developing.
How Much Folic Acid Should I Take?
Government guidelines recommend that all women who are of childbearing age get at least 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid each day. You'll also need to take this amount every day when you are trying to get pregnant and for the first three months of your pregnancy.
If you are already pregnant, you'll need to increase the amount of folic acid to 600 mcg. And while you are breastfeeding, you should get at least 500 mcg of folic acid daily.
If you have already had a child with spina bifida or anencephaly and are trying to get pregnant again, you will need much more folic acid -- 4,000 mcg beginning at least one to three months before conceiving and during the first three months of pregnancy.
Foods High in Folic Acid
Since 1998, the FDA has required food manufacturers to fortify all enriched cereals, breads, pastas, rice, and other grain products with folic acid. Some cereals contain the full 100% of folic acid you need each day.
Other foods that are high in folic acid include:
- asparagus
- bananas
- broccoli, spinach, and other green leafy vegetables
- dried beans
- oranges and orange juice
- peanuts and other nuts
- peas
Folic Acid Supplements
Even if you watch your diet, it can be difficult to get the amount of folic acid you need from food alone. Taking a daily vitamin can help. Most multivitamins contain the recommended amount of folic acid. If you're not sure which vitamin to take, read the label. It should say that the vitamin contains 400 mcg or 100% of the daily recommended value of folic acid.
If you're trying to get pregnant or are already pregnant, your doctor may prescribe a prenatal vitamin, which will contain all the folic acid you'll need (unless you've already had a baby with an NTD, in which case your doctor will prescribe a much higher dose of folic acid).
Side Effects of Taking Folic Acid
Folic acid is not toxic, even at high doses. However, the CDC recommends consuming no more than 1,000 mcg in supplement form each day.
Even though most research suggests that folic acid can actually reduce the risk of many cancers, one study found that folic acid increased the incidence of colorectal cancer.
Another study linked high folate levels to an increased incidence of twin births in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). The authors speculated that when more than one embryo is implanted during IVF, folic acid might help more of the embryos become viable. However, other studies have found no increased risk of multiple births with folic acid intake.
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