Are you taking too much folic acid"
If you?re pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant, you?ve no doubt heard that you should be taking folic acid. That?s because it?s long been established that women who take folic acid supplements before getting pregnant and during pregnancy have a significantly lower chance of having a baby with neural tube defects like spina bifida.
However, recent research suggests that when it comes to folic acid, it may be possible to have too much of a good thing.
What is folic acid"
Folic acid is the synthetic form of the B vitamin folate. Folate is naturally found in leafy greens, like spinach and kale, pulses, kidney beans and lentils, and fruits like oranges, grapefruit and avocados. But not everyone gets enough folate naturally in their diet. Because neural tube defects happen early in pregnancy?before many women even know they are pregnant?and because pregnancies are often unplanned, Health Canada recommends that all women who could become pregnant take a multivitamin containing 0.4 mg of folic acid daily. If you?re planning to become pregnant, it?s recommended you take the supplement for at least three months beforehand. The recommended intake then increases to 0.6 mg during pregnancy.
How much folic acid is too much"
While there is no concern about consuming too much folate?you really can?t overdo eating lentils and spinach?there are growing concerns over the possible effects of too much folic acid. A supplement containing 0.4 mg of folic acid plus a number of s...
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