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At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
- Linus Pauling Institute; Folic Acid; Jane Higdon, Ph.D.; April 2002
- Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health: Folate
The information contained on this site is for informational purposes only, and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a professional health care provider. Please check with the appropriate physician regarding health questions and concerns. Although we strive to deliver accurate and up-to-date information, no guarantee to that effect is made.
Normal Dose of Folic Acid
Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin found almost exclusively in supplements 2. This chemical arrangement is rarely found in foods. Folate is naturally occurring in foods and is metabolically active in the human body. All people need folic acid, but it is especially important for women who plan to become pregnant and for those who may have other underlying medical conditions such as sickle cell anemia, celiac disease, diabetes, epilepsy and liver disease 2.
Function of Folic Acid
Folic acid is essential in DNA metabolism and metabolism of amino acids such as homocysteine and methionine 2.
Dose of Folic Acid
Dramamine Precautions
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The normal dose of folic acid is 1 mg per day if it is being used to treat megaloblastic anemia 2. Adults who have folic acid deficiency may take between 400 and 800 mcg per day, and women of childbearing age, pregnant or lactating may use 800 mcg per day 2. Infants who are folic acid deficient may be prescribed 0.1 mg per day, and children, 1 mg per day 2. Many over-the-counter multivitamins contain folic acid, but physicians can also order prescription dosage for treatment of disease or for prevention of birth defects prior to pregnancy 2. Past history of kidney disease or alcoholism may change the dosage you require.
Food Sources
Leafy green vegetables, fruits and dried beans are natural sources of folate. Enriched breakfast cereal fortified with folic acid can deliver 100 percent of the daily value recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 2. The daily value percentage is the Food and Drug Administration's recommended consumption based on a 2,000 calorie per day diet.
Safety
Supplements Approved by the FDA
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Medications may also interfere with your body's ability to utilize folate. Those medications include anti-convulsants, methotrexate, barbiturates, metformin and sulfasalazine. Side effects for the use of folic acid supplementation include:
- nausea
- loss of appetite
- bloating
- sleep problems
- depression
- irritability 2
Related Articles
References
- Linus Pauling Institute; Folic Acid; Jane Higdon, Ph.D.; April 2002
- Drugs.com: Folic Acid
- Office of Dietary Supplements of the National Institutes of Health: Folate
- Donnelly JG. Folic acid. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci. 2001;38(3):183-223.
- Scaglione F, Panzavolta G. Folate, folic acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate are not the same thing. Xenobiotica. 2014;44(5):480-8.
- Figueiredo JC, Grau MV, Haile RW, et al. Folic acid and risk of prostate cancer: results from a randomized clinical trial. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2009;101(6):432–435. doi:10.1093/jnci/djp019
- Spina bifida and anencephaly before and after folic acid mandate--United States, 1995-1996 and 1999-2000. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2004;53(17):362-5.
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- Fousekis FS, Theopistos VI, Katsanos KH, Tsianos EV, Christodoulou DK. Hepatobiliary Manifestations and Complications in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Review. Gastroenterology Res. 2018;11(2):83–94. doi:10.14740/gr990w
- Hariz A, Bhattacharya PT. Megaloblastic Anemia. [Updated 2019 Jan 23]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537254/
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- Tinelli C, Di Pino A, Ficulle E, Marcelli S, Feligioni M. Hyperhomocysteinemia as a Risk Factor and Potential Nutraceutical Target for Certain Pathologies. Front Nutr. 2019;6:49. Published 2019 Apr 24. doi:10.3389/fnut.2019.00049
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- Hsu CY, Chiu SW, Hong KS, et al. Folic Acid in Stroke Prevention in Countries without Mandatory Folic Acid Food Fortification: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Stroke. 2018;20(1):99–109. doi:10.5853/jos.2017.01522
- McRae MP. High-dose folic acid supplementation effects on endothelial function and blood pressure in hypertensive patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. J Chiropr Med. 2009;8(1):15–24. doi:10.1016/j.jcm.2008.09.001
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- Troesch B, Demmelmair J, Gimpfl M, et al. Suitability and safety of L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate as a folate source in infant formula: A randomized-controlled trial. PLoS One. 2019;14(8):e0216790. Published 2019 Aug 19. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0216790
- Pintó X, Vilaseca MA, Balcells S, et al. A folate-rich diet is as effective as folic acid from supplements in decreasing plasma homocysteine concentrations. Int J Med Sci. 2005;2(2):58–63. doi:10.7150/ijms.2.58
- American Academy of Pediatrics: Committee on Genetics. Folic acid for the prevention of neural tube defects. Pediatrics. 1999 Aug;104(2 Pt 1):325-7.
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- Merle, B.; Silver, R.; Rosner, B. et al. Dietary folate, B vitamins, genetic susceptibility and progression to advanced nonexudative age-related macular degeneration with geographic atrophy: a prospective cohort study. Am J Clin Nutr. 2016 Apr;103(4):1135-44. DOI: 10.3945/ajcn.115.117606.
- Zhao, G.; Ford, E.; Li, C. et al. Use of folic acid and vitamin supplementation among adults with depression and anxiety: a cross-sectional, population-based survey. Nutrition Journal. 2011;10:102. DOI: 10.1186/1475-2891-10-102.
Writer Bio
Gail Morris has been writing extensively since 1997. She completed a master's degree in nursing at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and practiced in medicine for more than 20 years. Morris has published medical articles in peer-reviewed journals and now writes for various online publications and freelances for Internet marketers.