Folic Acid

July 9, 2020

OVERVIEW

Folate and folic acid are forms of a water-soluble B vitamin. Folate occurs naturally in food, and folic acid is the synthetic form of this vitamin. Since 1998, folic acid has been added to cold cereals, flour, breads, pasta, bakery items, cookies, and crackers, as required by federal law. Foods that are naturally high in folate include leafy vegetables (such as spinach, broccoli, and lettuce), okra, asparagus, fruits (such as bananas, melons, and lemons) beans, yeast, mushrooms, meat (such as beef liver and kidney), orange juice, and tomato juice.

Folic acid is used for preventing and treating low blood levels of folate (folate deficiency) and high blood levels of homocysteine (hyperhomocysteinemia). Women who are pregnant or might become pregnant take folic acid to prevent miscarriage and "neural tube defects." These are serious birth defects such as spina bifida, when the fetal spine and back do not close in the womb. Folic acid is also used for many other conditions including depression, stroke, decline in memory and thinking skills in older people that is more than what is normal for their age, and many others.

Folic acid is often used in combination with other B vitamins.

CLASSIFICATION

Is a form of:

Water-soluble B vitamin

Primary Functions:

Preventing and treating Low Blood Levels of folate

Also Known As:

AcidoFolico, B Complex Vitamin, Complexe de Vitamines B, ComplexeVitaminique B

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Folic acid is needed for the proper development of the human body. It is involved in producing the genetic material called DNA and in numerous other bodily functions.

USES

Folate deficiency. Taking folic acid improves folate deficiency.
An eye disease that leads to vision loss in older adults (age-related macular degeneration or AMD). Research shows that taking folic acid with other vitamins including vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 reduces the risk of developing age-related vision loss.
Decline in memory and thinking skills in older people that is more than what is normal for their age. Research shows that taking folic acid with or without other B vitamins may improve memory and thinking skills in older people with larger than normal declines in these skills. Folic acid seems to work best in people who have low levels of folate or high levels of homocysteine in the blood.
Limited research shows that taking folic acid along with antidepressants seems to improve symptoms in people with depression.
High blood pressure. Research shows that taking folic acid daily for at least 6 weeks reduces blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. But Taking folic acid with blood pressure medication does not seem to lower blood pressure more than taking only blood pressure medicine
Gum enlargement caused by the drug phenytoin. Applying folic acid to the gums seems to prevent gum problems caused by phenytoin. However, taking folic acid by mouth does not seem to improve symptoms of this condition.
Gum disease in women who are pregnant. Applying folic acid to the gums seems to improve gum disease during pregnancy.
Taking folic acid can reduce the risk of stroke by 10% to 25% in people who live in countries that don't fortify grain products with folic acid. But folic acid doesn't seem to prevent strokes in most people who live in countries that do fortify grain products with folic acid.
A skin disorder that causes white patches to develop on the skin (vitiligo). Taking folic acid by mouth seems to improve symptoms of vitiligo.

RECOMMENDED DOSING

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

ADULTS

BY MOUTH:

For folic acid deficiency: the typical dose is 250 mcg (micrograms) to 1 mg (milligrams) per day.
For preventing birth defects of the brain and spine (neural tube birth defects): Women capable of becoming pregnant should take 400 mcg of folic acid per day from fortified foods or supplements. Women who are pregnant are advised to take 600 mcg of folic acid per day from fortified foods or supplements. Women with a history of previous pregnancy complicated by neural tube defects usually take 4 mg per day beginning one month before and continuing for up to 3 months after conception.
For reducing colon cancer risk: 400 mcg per day.
For treating high amounts of homocysteine in the blood (hyperhomocysteinemia):
- 200 mcg to 15 mg per day has been used, although daily doses of 800 mcg to 1 mg appear to be most effective.
- In people with end-stage renal disease, high homocysteine levels may be more difficult to treat, and doses of 800 mcg to 40 mg per day have been used. Other dosage plans such as 2.5-5 mg three times weekly have also been used. Doses higher than 15 mg daily do not seem to be more effective than lower doses.
For improving the response to medications for depression: 200-500 mcg daily has been used.
For a skin disorder that causes white patches to develop on the skin (vitiligo): 5 mg is typically taken twice daily.
For reduction of toxicity caused by the drug methotrexate: 1 mg per day is probably enough, but up to 5 mg per day may be used.
For preventing an eye disease that leads to vision loss in older adults (age-related macular degeneration or AMD): 2.5 mg of folic acid, 1 mg of vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin), and 50 mg of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) per day have been used.
For a decline in memory and thinking skills in older people that is more than what is normal for their age. 400 mcg of folic acid per day or 800 mcg of folic acid with 20 mg of vitamin B6 and 500 mcg of vitamin B12 per day have been used for up to 2 years. A higher folic acid dose of 15 mg has also been used, but only for up to 60 days.
For preventing stroke. 500 mcg to 40 mg of folic acid per day have been used. The greatest benefit seems to occur with folic acid doses of 800 mcg per day or lower.

APPLIED TO THE SKIN:

For gum disease in women who are pregnant: a mouthwash containing folic acid has been used twice daily for one minute.

GIVEN BY NEEDLE:

For homocysteine lowering in people with end-stage renal disease (ESRD): 10 mg post-hemodialysis three times per week has been given in the vein.

CHILDREN

BY MOUTH:

For gum enlargement caused by the drug phenytoin (6-15 years): folic acid 500 mcg daily has been used.

The adequate intakes (AI) for infants are 65 mcg for infants 0-6 months and 80 mcg for infants 7-12 months of age. The recommended dietary allowances (RDAs) for folate in DFE, including both food folate and folic acid from fortified foods and supplements are: Children 1-3 years, 150 mcg; Children 4-8 years, 200 mcg; Children 9-13 years, 300 mcg; Adults over 13 years, 400 mcg; Pregnant women 600 mcg; and breast-feeding women, 500 mcg. The tolerable upper intake levels (UL) of folate are 300 mcg for children 1-3 years of age, 400 mcg for children 4-8 years, 600 mcg for children 9-13 years, 800 mcg for adolescents 14-18 years, and 1 mg for everyone over 18 years of age.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What are the benefits of taking folic acid?

Folic acid helps your body produce and maintain new cells, and also helps prevent changes to DNA that may lead to cancer. As a medication, folic acid is used to treat folic acid deficiency and certain types of anemia (lack of red blood cells) caused by folic acid deficiency.

Is it OK to take folic acid when not pregnant?

Doctors usually recommend that non-pregnant women and men get 400 mcg daily, whereas pregnant women should get 600 mcg and breastfeeding women should get 500 mcg. Providers may advise some patients to take higher doses, including: Those with a family history of neural tube defects.

Who should take folic acid supplements?

Folic Acid. CDC urges all women of reproductive age to take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid each day, in addition to consuming food with folate from a varied diet, to help prevent some major birth defects of the baby's brain (anencephaly) and spine (spina bifida).

Does folic acid have side effects?

Although doses up to 5 mg daily have been safely used in some research, doses of folic acid greater than 1 mg daily might cause abdominal cramps, diarrhea, rash, sleep disorders, irritability, confusion, nausea, stomach upset, behavior changes, skin reactions, seizures, gas, excitability, and other side effects.

Is it good to take folic acid everyday?

Folic acid is a B vitamin. ... Women need to take folic acid every day, starting before they are pregnant to help prevent NTDs. CDC and the US Public Health Service urge every woman who could become pregnant to get 400 micrograms (400 mcg) of synthetic folic acid every day.

Does folic acid cause weight gain?

Folic acid intake has increased to high levels in many countries, raising concerns about possible adverse effects, including disturbances to energy and lipid metabolism. ... Our results suggest that excess folic acid may exacerbate weight gain, fat accumulation, and inflammation caused by consumption of a HF diet.

Does folic acid grow hair?

Folic acid is primarily responsible for healthy cell growth. These cells include those found inside your skin tissues as well as in your hair and nails. Such effects on your hair has spurred interest in folic acid as a possible hair-growth treatment measure. Additionally, folic acid helps keep red blood cells healthy.

Why folic acid is bad?

Folate deficiency, of course, is harmful. But excess in the form of folic acid has its own dangers. Just to be clear: folic acid is not the same as natural folate. ... But it has the potential to disrupt normal folate metabolism and there is substantial evidence that it can even promote cancer growth.

Does folic acid make you more fertile?

'Folic acid helps fertility in women' Women who take folic acid supplements every day have a better chance of getting pregnant, say researchers. Long known to safeguard the health of the unborn baby, this is the first timefolic acid, a form of vitamin B, has been shown to aid conception too.

When should you stop taking folic acid?

Once you reach 12 weeks pregnant your baby's spine will have developed, so you can stop taking folic acid if you wish. Howeveryou can continue to take supplements after 12 weeks if you choose to and it.

Why would a doctor prescribe folic acid?

Is it OK to take 1mg of folic acid?

Most over-the-counter supplements of folic acid are 400 mcg tablets. Prescription folic acid for pregnant women is usually for 1 mg (i.e., 1,000 mcg) tablets. Adults over 18, including pregnant women, should not take more than 1,000 mcg of folic acid a day.

Can folic acid help you lose weight?

Taking a folic acid supplement will ensure that protein is metabolized properly, which will help your body maintain a stable insulin level. ... Along with good nutrition and enough exercise, supplements and vitamins like Omega Oils, B Complex, and folic acid will help your body maximize your weight loss efforts.

How long does it take for folic acid to work?

Folic acid usually starts to work in a few hours. But if you're taking it for folate deficiency anaemia, it may be a few weeks before you start to feel better.

Can too much folic acid be harmful?

You can't get too much from foods that naturally contain folate. You should not get more than 1,000 micrograms of folic acid a day, unless your doctor prescribes a higher amount. Too much folic acid can hide signs that you lack vitamin B12, which can cause nerve damage.

What does folic acid do for a woman?

Folic acid is a B vitamin that is used by the body to manufacture DNA. DNA is required for rapid cell division and organ/tissue formation in the developing baby. Folic acid can only help prevent NTDs during the first weeks of pregnancy, usually before a woman even knows she's pregnant.

Does folic acid make you tired?

Folic acid is one of the B vitamins, and it helps your body make new cells, including new red blood cells. ... If you don't have enough red blood cells, you have anemia, which can make you feel weak and tired. So it's important that you get enough folic acid every day.

Does folic acid help you get pregnant faster?

Folic acid is an important vitamin for both men and women. Getting enough folic acid can help decrease the risk of birth defects, and it may improve sperm count in men. They do make fertility supplements for men and women who are trying to conceive, but they are not all equal.

Does folic acid make you hungry?

Folic acid is a powerful appetite stimulant, especially in higher doses (>400-600 mcg/day). If an individual is deficient in folic acid, the first thing that goes is their appetite.

Does folic acid stay in your system?

Why do I have to take it every day? Your body does not store folic acid so you need to take it every day to maintain enough quantities in your body. This is because folic acid is water-soluble (dissolves in water) and leftover amounts leave the body through the urine.

Can I take vitamin D and folic acid together?

No interactions were found between folic acid and Vitamin D3. This does not necessarily mean no interactions exist. Always consult your healthcare provider.

What causes high folic acid levels?

There are several other medical conditions that may increase folic acid needs including anyone taking medications for epilepsy, Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease; anyone with kidney disease who is on dialysis; anyone with liver, sickle cell, or celiac diseases.

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