What happens if a pregnant woman drinks too much folic acid?

Normal folic acid supplementation before pregnancy can effectively prevent fetal malformations, but while we should also be aware of the importance of folic acid supplementation, we should also be aware that more folic acid is not necessarily better, as excessive folic acid will interfere with the normal metabolism of zinc in the body. So what will happen if folic acid is excessive? What are the adverse reactions of folic acid excess?

Safe doses of folic acid

The folic acid tablets provided free of charge by the state to pregnant women and pregnant women are 0.4 mg/tablet. Therefore, as long as the doctor does not have special requirements, taking one tablet a day can achieve the purpose of preventing fetal neural tube defects without the problem of overdose. There are two main types of folic acid tablets on the market. One is the one mentioned above that is specifically provided to pregnant women and pregnant women, and the other is mainly used to treat megaloblastic anemia caused by folic acid deficiency. The folic acid content of these two folic acid tablets is very different. The former is 0.4 mg and the latter is 5 mg, a difference of 12.5 times. If pregnant women and pregnant women take 5 mg/tablet of folic acid tablets every day, it will greatly exceed the body's needs and may cause some adverse consequences.

What happens if you take too much folic acid?

Folic acid is a type of B vitamin that is needed by everyone, not just pregnant women and pregnant women. The human body cannot synthesize folic acid, so it can only be obtained through food and nutrient supplements. However, taking folic acid for a long time and in large doses will interfere with the metabolism of zinc in the human body and lead to zinc deficiency. Zinc deficiency in pregnant women not only affects their own health, but also causes decreased immunity, aggravated pregnancy reactions, and loss of appetite. More importantly, it affects the growth and development of the baby. However, pregnant mothers do not need to be afraid. Regular folic acid supplementation while maintaining a normal diet will not have adverse reactions.

Side effects of folic acid excess

Long-term and large-scale use of folic acid may cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as anorexia, nausea, abdominal distension, and yellow urine. Oral folic acid can quickly improve megaloblastic anemia, but it cannot prevent the progression of neurological damage caused by vitamin deficiency. If folic acid is still taken in large doses, it can further reduce the vitamin content in serum, which will make neurological damage irreversible.

Side effects of folic acid overdose

1. Taking too much folic acid can interfere with the effect of anticonvulsant drugs and induce convulsions in patients.

2. For normal people, taking 350 micrograms of folic acid orally may affect the absorption of zinc, leading to zinc deficiency, slowing the development of the fetus, and increasing the number of low birth weight babies.

3. Taking too much folic acid can mask the early symptoms of vitamin deficiency and cause damage to the nervous system.

If you have taken folic acid supplements for 3 months but have not gotten pregnant, do you still need to continue taking them?

It should be said that supplementing 0.4 mg of folic acid every day is very safe, and there will be no adverse reactions even if taken for a long time. Supplementing folic acid from 3 months before pregnancy to 3 months after pregnancy is only the most basic requirement. According to the recommendations of the Chinese Nutrition Society's "Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents", folic acid supplementation should start at least 3 months before pregnancy, and it is best to continue until the end of the entire pregnancy. Folic acid supplementation not only helps prevent fetal neural tube defects, but also helps reduce the risk of gestational hyperlipidemia. Therefore, if you have no intention of giving up pregnancy, you can continue to take folic acid tablets.

I didn't plan to get pregnant, but I got pregnant unexpectedly. Is it too late to take folic acid supplements now?

Since the differentiation of the fetal neural tube usually occurs 2 to 4 weeks after pregnancy, it is most important to supplement folic acid in the early stages of pregnancy. Of course, it does not mean that not taking folic acid tablets will definitely lead to fetal deformities. It is most necessary to supplement folic acid in the first three months of pregnancy. If you get pregnant unexpectedly, you should start taking folic acid tablets immediately.

I heard that expectant fathers also need to take folic acid supplements. Is this true?

Folic acid is an essential substance for DNA synthesis. When the expectant father lacks folic acid, the activity of sperm will decrease, which is not conducive to successful conception. Therefore, it is beneficial for the expectant father to supplement folic acid.

Importance of folic acid supplementation

1. For expectant mothers, folic acid can prevent anemia in pregnant women. The body of pregnant women needs folic acid to produce normal red blood cells. According to the survey, the prevalence of anemia in women of childbearing age in China is 20.6%. Insufficient folic acid intake may also cause anemia in pregnant women.

2. For the fetus, folic acid can reduce the risk of birth defects. A large number of studies have shown that taking folic acid can reduce the incidence of major body malformations, cleft lip and palate, and congenital heart disease by 15%, thereby reducing the neonatal mortality rate by 20%.

At the same time, it can also prevent newborn neurovascular defects, a disease with a high mortality and disability rate. If women take the recommended dose of folic acid every day at least one month before conception and in the first three months of pregnancy, they can reduce the risk of neural tube defects in their babies by 50% to 70%.

Therefore, when planning a pregnancy, women should take folic acid regularly. Once conceived, it can fully meet the fetus's need for B vitamins, which is of great significance for effectively preventing fetal defects and maternal anemia. The early stage of pregnancy is also a critical period for folic acid supplementation, so doctors generally recommend taking folic acid from 3 months before pregnancy to 3 months after pregnancy.