What should I do if I take one more folic acid tablet?

Most women usually take folic acid supplements after pregnancy or during the period of preparing for pregnancy. Folic acid is a drug that is beneficial to both pregnant women and fetuses. Taking folic acid can not only prevent neural tube defects in babies, but also prevent anemia in pregnant women. However, folic acid cannot be taken casually and needs to be supplemented under the guidance of a doctor. What should I do if I take one extra folic acid tablet?

Normally, if you only eat too much folic acid once or twice, you don't need to worry too much, as it usually won't affect your health. However, if you consume too much folic acid for a long time, you must seek medical attention immediately.

What to do if you take too much folic acid

Folic acid is a form of vitamin B that plays a key role in many metabolic processes. In some countries, folic acid is required to be added to cereals to ensure adequate intake by pregnant women and reduce the risk of brain and spinal defects in babies at birth. Babies born to pregnant women who consume too much folic acid are more likely to carry a gene called 677TMTHFR. Normally born babies are four times more likely to carry this gene than babies who die. Babies are more likely to survive if their mothers get enough folic acid. Today, the number of babies carrying this gene variant is increasing due to the popularity of folic acid-fortified foods.

Some scientists now believe that this genetic change has negative long-term health effects, potentially increasing the risk of heart disease, cancer and pregnancy complications in adults. But there are also studies showing that the risk of the disease is also prevalent when people's diets are lacking in folate. Scientists don't understand the reason either.

Although there is no conclusive evidence that folic acid is harmful to health, scientists from Australia and the UK have warned that artificially consuming large amounts of the vitamin may change the genetic composition of future humans. They also said that until the risks are clear, the government should consider reducing the folic acid content in recommended foods from 400 mg per day to 200 mg.

Everything has a limit. If you exceed this limit, even good things will become factors that make you unhealthy. So we can't be greedy, just enough is enough. Folic acid is a good thing for pregnant women, but don't take it in excess.

What is the role of folic acid

1. Prevent anemia in pregnant women. The body of pregnant women needs folic acid to produce normal red blood cells. The survey shows that the prevalence of anemia among Chinese women of childbearing age is 20.6%. Insufficient folic acid intake may also cause anemia in pregnant women.

2. Reduce the risk of birth defects in babies. Taking folic acid can reduce the incidence of major external malformations in newborns by 15%, cleft lip and palate by 30%, and congenital heart disease by 35%, thereby reducing the neonatal mortality rate by 20%.

3. Prevent neural tube defects, which are common congenital malformations in newborns in China. If women take the recommended daily dose of folic acid at least one month before conception and during the first three months of pregnancy, they can reduce the risk of neural tube defects in their babies by 50% to 70%.

4. It affects the basic structure of DNA and cells. Therefore, getting enough folic acid is especially important for the rapidly growing placenta and baby.