What happens if you have too much folic acid? This is a question that pregnant women and women who are considering pregnancy often ask.

In actual fact, there is very little to worry about when it comes to consuming too much folic acid. Folic acid is in itself a water soluble vitamin. Therefore the body flushes out any excess. The only side effect of having too much folic acid, for a woman that is, is that it can mask a vitamin B12 deficiency. This can be a particular problem for vegetarians. Folic acid deficiency sufferers display some similar symptoms to anemia, so medical opinion should be sought immediately if you suspect you have a folic acid deficiency.

The maximum amount of folic acid a person could safely consume is no more than 1000 micrograms. This is the tolerable upper intake level for folate in both adult men and women. If a woman under 18 years old is pregnant or breastfeeding, then the limit rests at 800 micrograms. The only side effect, as already mentioned, of consuming more than the maximum recommended intake is the chance of symptoms of a vitamin B12 deficiency being hidden.

Folic acid is not known to have a toxic level so is not considered dangerous. It can however lead to a rare condition not being diagnosed in elderly people. This condition is called pernicious anemia. Excess folic acid may hamper the diagnosis of this condition and therefore lead to neurological damage.

The effects of not enough folic acid far outweigh those of too much folic acid.

Women of child bearing age should pay attention to their folate intake (folic acid is otherwise known as folate). If you know you are going to become pregnant, increase your intake to 400 micrograms per day both before conception and during the first 2 months of pregnancy. This will assist in preventing spinal defects in your baby.

To sum up, consuming too much folic acid is not likely to have a detrimental effect on your health. It is almost impossible to have more than the recommended daily intake of folic acid just through food; therefore if you are not taking any supplements then you are not in any danger of having too much folic acid.

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