Folic acid is a member of the B-complex family of vitamins. Because your body does not make folic acid and many foods do not contain it naturally, many manufacturers have started to add folic acid to foods, or your physician may recommend taking a supplement. Because you can experience adverse effects when having too much folic acid in your blood, knowing a safe dosage and side effects of taking too much can help you stay healthy.
Food vs. Supplement
Consuming foods high in folic acid, such as fortified cereal or orange juice, are not associated with adverse side effects from folic acid, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. Folic acid only becomes risky when you are taking synthetic forms of folic acid. However, this risk is very low.
Dosages
The general recommendations for folic acid are 400 mcg per day for adults age 14 and up, according to the Linus Pauling Institute. However, if you are pregnant, you need 600 mcg, while breastfeeding women need 500 mcg. While you should always speak to a physician about a safe upper limit considering your unique health conditions, the general recommendation is not to exceed an intake of 1,000 mcg per day if you are older than age 19 or 800 mcg per day if you are between the ages of 14 and 18, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. However, some people may be able to take larger doses without experiencing ill effects.
Vitamin B12
One of the dangers of too much folic acid is the risk of reducing the amount of vitamin B12 in your diet. For example, taking more than 1,000 mcg of folic acid can trigger symptoms associated with vitamin B12 deficiency, which include permanent nerve damage. For this reason, your physician may recommend having a blood test before taking folic acid to ensure you do not already experience a vitamin B12 deficiency. If you are older than age 50, this risk can be especially high.
Additional Side Effects
In addition to its effect on vitamin B12, taking folic acid also can cause your blood pressure to lower. If you are taking blood pressure-lowering medications or herbs or supplements known to lower blood pressure, you may need to speak to your physician about the potential effects of folic acid. Also, folic acid can lower your blood sugar levels, which may affect your blood sugar management if you are a diabetic.
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