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High folic acid: causes, risks and treatment

by Alivia Nyhan
Published: Last Updated on

Folic acid belongs to the group of B vitamins, which are essential in the body to maintain good health. Usually, it is spoken of as its deficit, which causes many alterations. However, it is good that you know that excess folic acid in the body can be produced by eating foods rich in this vitamin and through vitamin supplements.

The increase of this vitamin can generate from drug interactions, allergic reactions, and even symptoms that can warn of the rise in its blood levels. This FastlyHealarticle will learn much more about high folic acid: causes, risks, and treatment.

High folic acid: causes

The leading cause of the increase in folic acid is seen in women during pregnancy; it depends on the rise in multivitamin consumption based on folic acid and vitamin B12, combined with the intake of foods rich in folate.

In older people, an increase in folic acid can be observed due to a low plasma concentration of vitamin B12, which causes its increase.

How much folic acid do people need daily?

People ingest this vitamin through foods rich in folateThe synthetic form of it is known as folic acid, and this is what goes into vitamin formulas such as pills and some fortified foods, among which are cereals.

This vitamin is known to everyone as folic acid, no matter in what form it is found. Its usual intake is obtained through the daily diet and supplements.

The amount of folic acid required per day depends on age, sex, and in the case of women, whether or not they are pregnant:

  • Adults should consume 400 mcg of folate.
  • Women who want to get pregnant or are pregnant should take 400 to 800 mcg of folic acid a day.

The folate found in food is not capped at an upper level than people consume through supplements. Folic acid supplements have an upper limit of 1000 mcg/day, which is why older adults, vegetarians, and anyone who is on a regimen that requires folic acid intake should take into account the amount of food that you consume rich in this nutrient and the amount you invest in the form of a supplement. With this, you will avoid the excessive increase of folic acid in the body.

Folic acid: dosage

It should be administered orally in the following way according to the type of disease that occurs:

  • The dose ranges from 250 mcg to 1 mg per day for low folic acid.
  • To prevent neural tube defects in pregnant women, they should consume 400 mcg of folic acid a day. Those who have presented this alteration in previous pregnancies should ingest four mcg a day before becoming pregnant and continue for three months in a row.
  • The dose in treating high homocysteine ​​levels in the blood should be ingested from 200 mcg to 15 mcg per day. In some cases, it has been found to increase this dose up to 800 mcg per day.
  • If it is a person with end-stage kidney disease, up to 40 mg a day can be prescribed.
  • If you want to improve the response of the medications indicated in depression, it is necessary to use between 200 and 500vmcg of folic acid daily.
  • In cases where it is necessary to prevent macular degeneration, it is recommended to take 2.5 mg of folic acid and one mcg of vitamin B12 once a day.
  • For its application on the skin, especially on the gums during pregnancy, mouthwash with folic acid two times a day for 1 minute is recommended.
  • In cases where it is necessary to apply it in an injectable form to lower homocysteine ​​levels in people with end-stage renal disease, it is required to place 10 mg intravenously after hemodialysis three times a week.
  • For children with gum problems caused by a medicine known as Phenytoin, 500 mcg of folic acid once a day is recommended.

High folic acid: risks

The risks you may have due to high folic acid are very low. Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin that we eliminate through the urine; despite this, when ingested in high doses and for an extended time, the following alterations may occur:

  • Sleep disorders
  • Eruptions
  • Irritability
  • Confusion
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Stomach discomfort
  • Diarrhea
  • Sickness
  • Skin reactions
  • Excitability
  • Seizures

When folic acid consumption is greater than 1 or 2 mg a day for a long time, it could increase the risk of suffering from myocardial infarction and diseases such as lung or prostate cancer.

Some special considerations should be taken with certain diseases. Among them are:

  • Seizure disorders: excess folic acid could worsen seizures in people who suffer from this disorder.
  • Pregnancy and lactation: Controlled intake does not generate any complications during this stage. Otherwise, you should go to the obstetrician-gynecologist. He will be in charge of adjusting the appropriate dose for the state of pregnancy.
  • In cases where angioplasty is required, the excess of this vitamin could aggravate the obstruction of the arteries. Folic acid is not recommended in people who have undergone this procedure.
  • Heart disease: the intake of folic acid and vitamin B6 can increase the risk of this disorder in people who suffer from it.
  • Cancer: in people who suffer from this disease, the consumption of folic acid should be restricted to high doses to avoid the risks of this disease.
  • Malaria: high levels of folic acid in people with this disease can cause alterations during treatment.

Treatment of high folic acid

The appearance of some symptoms may indicate that you have high folic acid. Because of this, it is best to go to your trusted doctor, who, after a medical evaluation and laboratory analysis, will make the precise diagnosis of the alteration.

Once the diagnosis is made, the treatment is based on reducing or suspending folic acid consumption and even controlling foods with high folate content.

It is not frequent to see the existence of high folic acid. If this is your case, do not hesitate to go for a medical evaluation to take the necessary measures when you need them.

This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor if you present any condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to High folic acid: causes, risks, and treatment, we recommend that you enter our category of Blood, heart, and circulation.

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