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AM I TAKING TOO MUCH?
Q|
I’ve heard it’s possible to take in too much folic acid.
I’m taking 200mcg at the moment, and have noticed
my pregnancy vitamin contains an additional 400mcg,
which is already 200% of the recommended daily allowance.
Can too much folic acid be bad for my baby or me?A
Folic acid has been shown to reduce the incidence of neural tube
defects during pregnancy. The recommended daily supplementation
dose pre-pregnancy is 400mcg. Once you become pregnant, this is
increased to 600mcg daily, which is how much you’re taking now.
In patients who are at high risk of neural tube defects, the dose might even be
increased by a medical practitoner to 5mg (5 000mcg) daily, so the amount you’re
taking is actually lower than the maximum recommended dosage for pregnancy.
Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin, so will be eliminated by
your body if in excess, making overdosing highly unlikely.
Dr Lindiwe Cebekulu, obstetrician and gynaecologist LL