The CDC recommends that all women of reproductive age take micrograms mcg of folic acid each day, and that pregnant women take mcg, along with consuming foods high in folate. Health Topics.
Health Tools. Folic Acid FA Brand Names: FA-8 , Folacin Reviewed: December 22, Your body needs this nutrient to make new cells. Ask a doctor or pharmacist if this medicine is safe to use if you have ever had: epilepsy or other seizure disorder; cirrhosis or other liver disease; kidney disease or if you are on dialysis ; hemolytic anemia; pernicious anemia; anemia that has not been diagnosed by a doctor and confirmed with laboratory testing; an infection; or alcoholism.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Side Effects. Common side effects may include: nausea, loss of appetite; bloating, gas, stomach pain; bitter or unpleasant taste in your mouth; confusion, trouble concentrating; sleep problems; depression; or feeling excited or irritable.
Based on FDA pregnancy categories. Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity. Use exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. How much folic acid do women need? If you: Amount of folic acid you may need daily 2 Could get pregnant or are pregnant — micrograms. Your doctor may prescribe this amount.
Research shows taking this amount may lower the risk of having another baby with spina bifida. Have spina bifida and want to get pregnant 4, micrograms. Women with spina bifida have a higher risk of having children with the condition. Take medicines to treat epilepsy , type 2 diabetes , rheumatoid arthritis , or lupus Talk to your doctor or nurse. Folic acid supplements can interact with these medicines. Are on dialysis for kidney disease Talk to your doctor or nurse.
Have a health condition, such as inflammatory bowel disease or celiac disease , that affects how your body absorbs folic acid Talk to your doctor or nurse. Are some women at risk for not getting enough folic acid? Spanish-speaking Mexican-American women often do not get enough folic acid. However, Mexican-Americans who speak English usually get enough folic acid. What can happen if I do not get enough folic acid during pregnancy?
These include: Spina bifida. As a result, the nerves that control the legs and other organs do not work. Children with spina bifida often have lifelong disabilities. They may also need many surgeries. Anencephaly an-en-SEF-uh-lee. Almost all babies with this condition die before or soon after birth.
Do I need to take folic acid every day even if I'm not planning to get pregnant? By the time you find out you are pregnant, it might be too late to prevent the birth defects. You need to take folic acid every day because it is a water soluble B-vitamin. Water soluble means that it does not stay in the body for a long time. Your body metabolizes uses folic acid quickly, so your body needs folic acid each day to work properly.
What foods contain folate? Folate is found naturally in some foods. Foods that are naturally high in folate include: Spinach and other dark green, leafy vegetables Oranges and orange juice Nuts Beans Poultry chicken, turkey, etc. What foods contain folic acid? Breads and pasta Flours Cornmeal White rice Since , the Food and Drug Administration FDA has required food manufacturers to add folic acid to processed breads, cereals, flours, cornmeal, pastas, rice, and other grains.
How can I be sure I get enough folic acid? If swallowing pills is hard for you, try a chewable or liquid product with folic acid. What should I look for when buying vitamins with folic acid? Vitamin label Check the "Supplement Facts" label to be sure you are getting to micrograms mcg of folic acid. Can I get enough folic acid from food alone? What is folate-deficiency anemia? The symptoms of folate-deficiency anemia include: Fatigue Headache Pale skin Sore mouth and tongue If you have folate-deficiency anemia, your doctor may recommend taking folic acid vitamins and eating more foods with folate.
Can I get too much folic acid? Do I need folic acid after menopause? Are folic acid pills covered under insurance? Did we answer your question about folic acid? Sources Finer, L. Declines in unintended pregnancy in the United States, The New England Journal of Medicine; 9 — Preventive Services Task Force. Folic Acid Recommendations. Bailey, R. Total folate and folic acid intake from foods and dietary supplements in the United States: — American Journal of Clinical Nutrition; 91 1 : — Hamner, H.
And since cancer cells multiply very quickly, they have a greater requirement for folic acid. This suggests that as far as a link between cancer and folic acid goes, dosage may be very important.
We want to make sure that our body is well supplied with the amount of folic acid needed for all the essential biochemical reactions, but we also want to guard against furnishing cancer cells with the dose they need to proliferate. Indeed, methotrexate, one of the medications used in cancer treatment works by blocking the conversion of folic acid into tetrahydrofolate, the active form of the vitamin.
Folic acid is especially critical in the earliest stages of development. Birth defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly, a tragic condition in which the brain has not properly formed, can be caused by a deficiency in folic acid. This fortification program has worked remarkably well, with birth defects attributed to folic acid deficiency having being significantly reduced.
When it became clear that folic acid supplementation had such a protective effect against birth defects, researchers began to examine its potential to prevent other health problems. Animal experiments and theoretical considerations had suggested protection from heart disease and cancer. While no evidence was found for heart disease in humans, the Nurses Health Study which had followed the health status of thousands of nurses over decades revealed that women with the highest folic acid intake were least likely to get colon cancer.
This stimulated a study at Dartmouth College of more than a thousand men and women who previously had polyps removed from their colon.
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