Is this enough folic acid?

Question

I have been taking my prenatal with 800 mcg but I want to take a b complex now and don't want to have too much folic acid. Obviously if I become pregnant I will take a prenatal

Answer

I would suggest taking prenatals now. They say to begin prenatals two to three months before you actually want to conceive. Better for you and the baby! I started in January taking my prenatals, even though we had been trying a few months prior. We didn't really start researching until about January and realized we both needed to be taking vitamins now. Dha, folic acid, and a multivitamin are all really important! Good luck!!

Answer

There's no such thing as too much folic acid. If you're taking more than you or your baby can use you'll just pee it out because it's a water-soluble vitamin. Folic acid is also really important to your baby's brain development, and having enough can prevent neural tube defects such as spina bifida. If you're on any antidepressants or antiepileptic drugs you're bound to be deficient. I personally take antiepileptic drugs, so my OB and my neurologist agreed that I should be taking 1600mg of folic acid every day.

Answer

Adults need 0.2mg of folic acid a day.
Folic acid cannot be stored in the body, so you need it in your diet every day.
Most people should be able to get the amount they need by eating a varied and balanced diet.
However, if you are pregnant, thinking of trying to have a baby or likely to become pregnant, it is recommended that you take a 0.4mg (400 micrograms) folic acid supplement daily from the time you stop using contraception until the 12th week of pregnancy. This is to help prevent birth defects of the central nervous system, such as spina bifida, in your baby.
If you have a family history of conditions like spina bifida (known as neural tube defects), you may need to take a higher dose of 5mg of folic acid each day until the 12th week of pregnancy. This is available on prescription from your GP. Women with diabetes and those taking anti-epileptic medicines should speak to their GP for advice, as they may also need to take a higher dose of folic acid.
Read more about vitamins and minerals during pregnancy.What happens if I take too much folic acid?
Taking doses of folic acid higher than 1mg can disguise vitamin B12 deficiency.
An early symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency is anaemia. However, taking large amounts of folic acid treats the anaemia without treating the B12 deficiency. If a vitamin B12 deficiency is not noticed, it can eventually damage the nervous system.
This is particularly a concern for older people, because it becomes more difficult to absorb vitamin B12 as you get older.

Is this enough folic acid?

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