Folic Acid Overdose
One of the functions of folic acid is to help tissues grow and cells work. Taking the right amount of folic acid before and during pregnancy can help prevent certain birth defects.
Folic acid works along with other vitamins to break down, use, and create new proteins. The vitamin helps form red blood cells and helps produce DNA, the building block of the human body.
People take folic acid supplements and multivitamins to treat leg ulcers, anemia, menstrual problems and folic acid deficiency.
As folic acid is a water soluble vitamin and the excess is excreted in the urine, becoming toxic does not normally occur. Taking very high doses of folic acid gives no increase in its therapeutic value.
Taking very high does of folic acid (up to 20,000 mcg) can cause stomach problems, sleep problems, skin reactions, and seizures. It is also known that high doses of folic acid can interfere with and reduce the effectiveness of methotrexate (anticancer). Folic acid may also, when combined with the following drugs, cause them to not be absorbed well: Zinc, estrogen, anticonvulsant drugs, barbiturates, and sulfasalazine.
The principal form of supplementary folate is folic acid. Folic acid is available in alone or in combination with other products. A normal daily dose is 400 micrograms and you can get it over the counter without a prescription. The best way to get the nutrients you need into your body is to eat a healthy diet. If for whatever reason you can’t do that, then you should take a supplement.
You should always take Folic acid with Vitamin B12, because folic acid can hide an underlying vitamin B12 deficiency, which can cause permanent damage to the nervous system.
There have been no adverse effects with eating foods high in folate. Supplements can make your stomach ill but there are no toxic results from a folic acid overdose. Know your body and what you can do to make and keep it happy and healthy.
