Hello all, I’ve been taking a prenatal vitamin with 400mcg of folic acid. Was recently recommended to take an additional 400 mcg methyfolate (from a trusted source but not my doctor) bc 50% of women cannot process folic acid … but if belt and suspenders. In total, I am taking 800 mcg per day (I take one in the AM and the other in the PM to spread out).
I asked my nurse about whether the 800mcg was ok and she didn’t know what methyfolate was … so really not helpful - but she said if I’m taking too much of something, I will just pee it out.
I’ve been googling it (hello, rabbit hole!) and I’m even more confused - too little is bad, too much is bad - but no articles say what amount is too little or too much! I did read in one article that anything over 1mg is too much unless specified by your doctor.
Just curious to know if anyone else has had this conundrum and if anyone can provide some helpful guidance.
Wish you well wherever you are in your journey 😊 ✨
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Gingerluv2021
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Hi,Don’t know if this is helpful, but when I researched it, it seems that the only risk when you take too much folic acid is that it can mask symptoms of b12-insufficiency. So as long as you’re also taking b12 (especially if you don’t eat a lot of animalistic products), you should be fine. However, I don’t know if that much folic acid is needed, but since it doesn’t seem to be harmful I think just keep going if you want to do it. If there’s a small chance it’ll help, why not?
I also had a friend (who’s a doctor, but not a reproductive specialist) who recommended me taking 1mg/day, just in case. So I’m doing it! But again I’m not an expert, so maybe other people have better advice.
Hi Gingerluv. • 10 micrograms of vitamin D each day throughout your pregnancy - you should also carry on taking this after your baby is born if you breastfeed
• 400 micrograms of folic acid each day – you should take this from before you are pregnant until you are 12 weeks pregnant. Those are the recommendations. Some women can't tollerate Folic Acid, so Inofolate is recommended as an alternative. Check with your specialist before doubling up. Diane
Hi not sure about individual circumstances but I take 5mg because of epilepsy meds. consultant told me the same that you just pee it out if you don’t need. Check with your dr to be sure
I’ve read that 800mcg is fine - I do the same, 400mcg in the multi + 400mcg methylfolate, I think she also said the same in ‘it starts with the egg’ pretty sure it can’t do any harm x
Not sure why prenatal vitamins have folic acid instead of methyfolate… apparently many women cannot process folic acid but everyone can absorb methyfolate 🤷🏽♀️
My consultant has prescribed me 5mg folic acid per day as it 'might help', so I'm assuming that taking more can't be too dangerous! I had only been taking it for about 3 weeks prior to my 3rd round and that round went better than the first two, so I'm interested to see if it has an impact on our 4th round, which is starting soon.
I haven't had my 4th round yet so I don't know unfortunately. There have been several delays for various reasons ☹ Hopefully we'll be going again in July 🤞
I have been taking 5mg every day for the last 4 years as it was prescribed by the fertility clinic when I started treatment and I was told to stay on it until I stopped treatments. I am currently almost 15 weeks pregnant after our 4th cycle of treatment and the midwife has said just to stay on it as my body will be used to the higher dose and extra won’t do the baby any harm. Good luck and hope that reassures you that 1mg will be fine. X
I’d find out the recommended dose and take that. I was also suggested by my GP to find a new multi vit with methyl folate for the same reasons as you state. This had the required amount and when my bloods were taken after I was pregnant around 7 weeks my folate came back as a good level. So I don’t think there’s a reason to take more than the recommended amount
I travel a lot for work and have discovered that most countries in the world recommend 1mg instead of the 400mcg of folic acid daily the NHS recommends. And for a BMI of 30+ is 5mg. You're absolutely fine under 1mg. The nurse was right that we do pee out what we dont need when it comes to folic acid. I actually chose to take 1mg intentionally 3 months before getting pregnant and until 20 weeks. Some studies have shown some links between lowered rate of miscarriage and higher folic acid dose. It made me feel better and it doesn't do any harm.
Hi I was on folate 1000 units 3 months before starting my IVF fresh cycle and throughout my pregnancy (until I gave birth). That was advised by my consultant as I had a gene issue. I also took parental vitamins which contained some folic acid and all was well. Some say it depends on your weight (the amount taken). Not sure if it's helpful but you can ask to do some blood tests (clotting) to see if more if recommend.
I have a heterozygous MTHFR gene mutation (I found it when taking tests abroad) which inhibits the way my body processes folic acid and other B vitamins. That's why I have been prescribed methyl folate and B12 ("Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate—found in most leading prenatal vitamin brands. Just like your body must convert folate into methyl folate, it must also convert folic acid into methyl folate").
I checked my folate levels abroad (reference ranges 10.40nmol/l - 42.40nmol/l) and it turned out they were above the reference ranges (probably because of the mutation). I have been told to stop taking any folic acid for a month and check the levels again in 30 days. In other words to give my body time to free from the excess. The doctor told me that is not good to take too much folic acid and suggested taking 400 mcg methyl folate for 3 months and having a break for a month. To be honest, this was the first time I've heard that too much folic acid can be harmful 🤷♀️
On the other hand, if you test your folic acid levels on NHS, there is no upper reference limit which means there is no such thing as too much folic acid.
I have been told by NHS hematologist that MTHFR is not usually tested as they cannot do anything, even if they know there is a mutation.
I hope I have not caused even more confusion, I just share two different opinions of experts
Thank you and I’ve followed you. I think the view on this issue is up to the health professional you are asking! 😂 I think I’ll ask my nurse on Monday when I see her. Thanks and good luck!
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pretty sure it can’t do any harm x
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