Hello,
I have to take 5mg folic acid daily due to increased risk of neural tube defects but I have wanted to start ovum supplements as it has all the ingredients listed in it starts with the egg book, I've also heard good things about it.
Trouble is, ovum supplements have 800mcg of methylfolate in them so if I'm taking that on top of 5mg folic acid, I'm concerned I'm taking way too much folic acid? What did others do who were in this situation?? I'd be grateful for any advice xxx
Heya, were you recommended to take 5 mg of folic acid due to a MTHFR mutation? If so, you are much better off just taking the 800 mcg of methylfolate. The mega-dose of folic acid is only recommended because people with the MTHFR mutation don't convert folic acid to folate very well, so you're advised to take loads in order to account for the fact that your body isn't converting much of it. However, it's much more effective (and healthier in the long term) to just take a normal dosage of the active version (methylfolate) since your body can use all of it. So basically, ditch the folic acid and just take the methylfolate. xx
I have mild form of spina bifida so my baby would be at increased risk of neural tube defects so GP prescribed 5mg folic acid. It's difficult to know what to do as I am not comfortable stopping the 5mg tablets but at same time I worry about the risks of taking extra.
Its difficult to know what to do, I use to just take 5mg folic acid when I first started trying to concieve because all fertility supplements have folic acid in them. Ovum does have double the amount of folic acid than most and most active form so it just makes me not sure if I'm doing the right thing .
I was on pregnacare for years and I'm still ttc so maybe supplements dont help? But choosing to try a different supplement it helps me to feel that I'm doing all I can so when we do need to call it a day and give up I don't look back and think what if, I know I tried everything xx
There’s nothing superior about folic acid (it just so happens that folic acid and not folate is in the formulae of what nhs doctors are able to prescribe), so personally I would stop the folic acid regardless. I understand your concern about neural tube defects though, so in that case I would consider taking ~2 g of folate/day in total. I took 1200 mcg of folate during pregnancy (800-1200 mcg is generally the recommended dose), so you’d still be well above the ‘normal’ intake. And if you’ve been taking the 5 mg tablets for the entire time you’ve been trying to conceive, your folate levels might already be really high. xx
Could you ask your pharmacy to give you lower dose amount of folate capsules like 1000mcg, for example, and you take 4x of these + ovum? That should take you close to 5mg!
Hi, I have also been on high dose Folic Acid (5mg) for years as I’m diabetic. I asked my dr if you could take other supplements that also contain folic acid and if there was a max dose and they said there wasn’t one for folic acid. X
you can take both, there is no danger.
Please do not stop your dose of folic acid. There is a lot of chat about methylfolate being more natural and absorbable but there is not study on it ultimately. It could be all marketing.
The only form of folate studied and proved to decrease spina bifida risk by 70% is folic acid. That’s why doctors give a higher dose of folic ACID and not another form of it.
given your own medical history I would maybe swap to 5mg of folate rather than folic acid and you could take it every second day but your prenatal dose of folate every day.
I’m diabetic and ttc through ivf and this is what I have always done. I regularly test my vitamin levels and my levels of folic acid is always high so I know I’m getting enough. The nutritionist Mel Brown (you can look her up on IG) has shared many studies showing high dose of folate is important when trying to conceive, whatever your medical history. I think any excess gets excreted from your body when you urinate as it is a b vitamin.
I hope that helps! I had the same question as you a few years ago and did some research on it and this advice was what I decided was the best way forward.
I was prescribed high dose folic acid in pregnancy from the consultant and also took a prenatal with it in. Was told your body takes what it needs and especially with b vitamins, you get rid of what you don't absorb.
I think its fine to take both. I saw a nutritionist (Mel Brown) due to recurrent miscarriage and she recommended I take Ovum plus 1000mcg of methyl folate on top (increasing to 2000 with a positive test). As others have said methyl folate is generally considered better as your body doesn't have to convert it first
I have to take 5mg folic acid due to mild hereditary blood cell issue and been told no harm to also take Ovum (and previously pregnacare) with that. I would continue both given your history.
Thank you! Really appreciate you sharing the advice you've been given xx
Folic acid 800ug?
methylfolate. Worried about my vitamins! Folic acid 
Folic acid
