Taking too much folic acids?

S

slin

Registered User
Hi all,

Is 800mcg folic acid too much for 5 week pregnancy? I just got the good news early this week and my GP recommended folic acids while i wait for my appointment with a gynecologist. He recommended 400mcg whilst the lady in GNC said 800mcg is better for the first trimester. Any idea?

I tried to set an appt with my gynaecologies but the nurse advised me to come after the 7th week. Should i take any other supplements at the meantime?

Any advise is welcome. Many thanks =)
 
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It depends which country standard. In Canada its 400-1000 mcg. My Gf who got health issue was prescribed 5000mcg a day. 800mcg is not overdose. You don't need to worry. But of course, pls consult your doctor as i don't know your medical history.
 
My doc recommended Materna for when I was pregnant. It's a prenatal multivitamin which contains many different vitamins (incl. 1mg folic acid) as well as minerals (iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc, etc.). You can get it at Watsons without prescription.
Many pregnant women have a low iron level, so it's usually recommended to take iron supplements. I wouldn't worry too much though, once you've had your first appointment with your gynaecologist, he/she will tell you what supplements to take.
 
Unless you've got any specific medical issues an over the counter pregnancy vitamin will be fine, whatever the amount of folic acid - as previous posters have said the advice in different countries is different which is all the evidence I need that they don't know how much you should have!

Materna, pregnacare, elevit (sp?) are all good brands, just buy one and take as directed - there's no need to worry about the specifics.
 
I would recommend taking your GP's advice over the sales assistant's advice in GNC. The sales assistant is not a trained medical professional.
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Good point RileyC, I didn't register who gave the second piece of advice, do you think GNC coincidentally had a special on 800mcg supplements running at the time? Definitely a doctor over a sales woman - especially in a shop that only sells one brand, they are always going to say theirs is best.
 
Folic acid is water soluble, so if you take too much your body will flush it out. The vitamin to be careful of is vitamin A (in some forms) which can cause birth defects if you take too much. That's why it's better to take a maternity vitamin like Materna. As for the folic acid, 400 mcg is the minimum for preventing neural tube defect (like spina bifida). My OB prescribed 5000 mcg per day and my family has no history of neural tube defects or any other health issue.
 
Noted that Materna formula in hong kong and in Canada the formulation different.

Also 1mg is 1000mcg

As I said on my first post. Different country got different formulation and ur not over dozing
 
folic acid 1000mcg?

Hi
Yes, agree that folic acid is water soluble, so you will eliminate what isn't used (it is not like fat soluble vitamins which are stored in the body, accumulative and therefore used with caution in pregnancy). However, most B vitamins (folic acid incuded) have synergistic relationsips with other vitamins meaning taking too much or something can put the balance out of another nutrient. Having said that, there are studies sugesting that 1000mcg is now the preferred dose of folic acid and is associated with the prevention of miscarriage and neural tube defects.
 
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