Can You Take Too Much Folate?
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- čas přidán 26. 01. 2019
- In this video we will address the question; Can you take too much folate? To do this we need to define and understand different types of folate. We will also need to understand some of the side effects or adverse reactions that can occur from folate.
*Note CORRECTION: The Video Says "2-3 grams of methylfolate " It should be 2-3 mg*
Maybe you read the RDA on folate and you are worried you are consuming too much based on this. So what is the RDA and the RDA for folate? The RDA is the Recommended Daily Allowance and it is calculated for various vitamins. The RDA recommendations are based on the minimum amount needed to prevent any health complications from a lack of a vitamin. This is where the percentages on vitamin labels come from. You might see 1000% vitamin b12 in a vitamin or supplement. Remember this is based not he minimum amount needed to cause problems. That is not to say you can't take too much of any vitamin but for most it is a lot more than the RDA.
The RDA for folate it is 400mcg. Going above the RDA does not mean you are going to have a problem but this is minimum amount needed to prevent folate deficiency. However some people may need a lot more than this and need specific types of folate which we will discuss in more detail below.
Many foods do have some folate fortified in them. So if you are consuming a "Standard American or Western Diet" you probably meet the RDA for your folate. However some people do not eat this way if you are doing a ketogenic or low carb diet perhaps you re not getting as much. Most of the fortification is in grains like flour, corn, rice etc. If you are avoiding grains you can also get a lot from dark leafy greens like salad greens. I have been using folate as a broader category to include folic acid, Methylfolate (5 mthfr, L Methylfolate) and folinic acid. These are all different types of folate. Folic acid is synthetic form man made folate and it is the most inactive form. Because it is less active, it has the least potential for side effects. That is not to say that side effects are not possible but just less likely.
Folinic acid is a more active form of folate. Typically it is used to support production of DNA base pairs. Folinic acid can also be turned into methylfolate. Methylfolate itself is the most active form of folate and can be recycled into folinic acid. It is also used at the center of the methylation or methionine cycle which is why there is more potential for side effects. You can read more about how folate work in your body here. Certainly side effects can occur from folate. They include headaches, anxiety, irritability, difficulty sleeping, hyper and revel up feeling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, etc. All of these symptoms are stimulated feeling but sometimes you can also get fatigued, heaviness in the body, depressed mood. These are all signs you are getting too much folate. Some people will also get digestive issue like nausea. There is another article that goes into more detail on the methylfolate side effects. The other thing to consider is masking a vitamin B12 deficiency. This can occur if you are taking larger amounts of folate and not also taking B12. These two vitamins work together to carry out their functions. Specifically they are cofactors for an enzyme in the methylation cycle called methionine synthase (see link above for more on this). If you only supply one of the cofactors you will potentially run out of the other.
Often times if you are looking up possible problems from folate or folic acid this (masking b12) comes up. Basically they are saying you either need to take B12 with your folate or don't take excess amounts. I have yet to see neuropathy or major problems from someone taking large amounts of folate without B12. Still this is a theoretic concern and makes physiological sense as well.
The same thing is true for taking other B vitamins and other nutrients that are cofactors for methylation or other pathways that are connected to methylation. The main thing is that when you increase cofactors (like methylfolate) in your body, your body uses those to make more of other molecules. These new molecules then need additional cofactors as well.
So if you re taking larger amounts of folate you need to be considerate of other B vitamins and cofactors connected (or downstream ) to the main process you are tying to improve. Higher amounts of folate are around 2-3 milligrams or 2000-3000 mcg. The more you consume the more likely these other things need to be taken into consideration. It also depends how long you will be consuming the higher amount. If it is long term, give more thought to this as your risk for depleting these other cofactors goes up.
So that's it for the question, can you take too much folate. If you have follow up questions about this post in the comment section below. - Věda a technologie
Check out my books that goes into details:
"MTHFR Gene Therapy Demystified" amzn.to/3uAWLoR
High B12 Levels and More
"Don't B12 Deficient" amzn.to/35TQBWt
Courses
discover-holistic-health-academy.thinkific.com
This is a topic very little is known about and hardly anyone on the net clarifies these issues. Keep it up.
Bhajan, thanks for the encouragement!
Excellent video! Thank you sir! Methyfolate had been working great for a year and now I see where we need to adjust. Wonderful!!
Glad to help
I would really like to know much more about all the pathways and orther affected nutrients. I'm sad you didn't go more into it but I understand the video could not be 2 hours long 😄
great video, thank you
Glad you liked it!
"If you like the video give it a like - if you dont like it maybe go to another video" 👍👍😄😄 I like your video AND that last advice 😄😄
Thank you so much 😀
is there a video somewhere where you go into detail about the list of nutrients you need to worry about not getting depleted at if you are in the gram and higher levels of MF? if not, can you list the entire list? what else other than the other B vitamins, zinc, and magnesium? thank you!
Thank you! I took 1 mg today first time ever trying the five - MTHF, and I got really tired and had a funny feeling in my chest like it was scared… Gonna go see if I can find one that only has around 400 MCG. Thanks again!
Your welcome
I have been taking the Now brand of methyl folate 1000mcg twice a day plus there is 400mcg in my muti Vitamins. Is that to much? I’m taking it to help with depression
Tank you for your work,i have one question,my Bloom work shows low folate...whem I try methylfolate fron solgar 400mcg i get a lot of anxiety...whem i try methylfolate from "NOW" 500mcg i get no anxiety but i get a lot off mental confusion...can you tell me why this is happening?what suplement of methylfolate do you recommend?
Tank you
Hi this is a common question and there are too many possibilities and scenarios to list here. Some people need to start at much lower doses and work up very slowly. Some cannot tolerate at all and have to use other things. Check out my video on understanding MTHFR treatment.
Hi Doc, I recently got my blood labs done and noticed my RBC was high. My doctor was not concerned and said it was probably elevation or just my natural levels but I always tend to be a worrier. I recently realize how much folate I take in a day (usually around 1500 mg a day) from eating around 2 cups of jasmine rice a day, as well as a multivitamin. Do you think that it could be the cause of my elevated RBC count?
Likelihood is low
My last 3 blood tests show high folate. I stopped taking all vitamins & supplements in the last 3 months but that didn’t lower my folate levels. She tested my B12 too but it was normal. What is causing this?
Hi @jacobsnewadventures,how is your high folate blood level? I have the same problem and I don’t know what to do. Any idea?
I have homozygous C677T mutation and homocysteine level at 30. I started at 2 mg L Methylfolate and 3000 mcg methylcobalamin and felt great for 2 weeks. Then I started my experiencing irritability, lack of concentration, rashes, altered sleep schedule…I backed down to 1 mg of the methylfolate. No change. Then down to 400 mcg and started experiencing the same symptoms plus anxiety and panic attacks. I’m down to 200 mcg and can concentrate better with less irritability BUT get flu like muscle and joint aches every night. Would folinic acid be a better fit for me??
U could take both. When u first start methylfolate it can be normal to only tolerate small amounts. It sounds like you have something more going on though. Check out my video on MTHFR treatment for other ideas.
@@swintegrative thank you! I have lots going on. My Lyme disease doctor is helping me figure it out. Thank you for your helpful videos!
@@jasonmcrae10 yes I still struggle with a lot of the symptoms I had mentioned but they aren’t because of the methylfolate. I have brain inflammation and a dysfunctional immune system. I’m sensitive to methylfolate though so I’m on a low dose. I’ve never heard of it being stuck in someone. In the past, when I’d accidentally take too much, the overdose symptoms would go away a day or so after discontinuing the supplement.
Hi, in 2019 I had a baby with congenital neural tube defects. Ancephaly, cleft lip palate and she had 6 fingers and toes. So now am trying to concieve again and am scared of a reoccurence. I have 800mcg folic acid tablets. How should i take this tablets to achieve the right dosage. Please help
I can't advise you on that. Typically 800mcg plus prenatal is plenty. I would recommend getting tested for MTHFR.
Hello Doctor, I took a vitamin B12 injection two months ago, and the next day I also took another injection, but after about a day I started to feel numbness in the hands and legs and I feel electricity in my extremities, especially in the stage of entering sleep.When I am very relaxed when sleeping or taking a nap, for example, when I hear a sound, even if it is weak, jumping, and I feel electricity in my extremities, as if my hearing has become very sensitive.I took vitamin B complex supplements, and the symptoms started to improve gradually, and after I stopped for a week, the symptoms returned strongly. Please help me. I went to a neurologist and she gave me sleeping pills, but I refused to take them because I knew that my problem was purely nutritional.I feel so.
I used google translate, sorry for the typos.
I am from Algeria, you cannot even imagine the extent of the collapse of the health system here, it took me more than six years to diagnose my condition in Hashimoto's lethargy, and that was with the help of Google, after visiting more than thirty doctors, and I do not exaggerate it,Not counting the number of times I went to the emergency room.
Please help me, I am in a deplorable condition, I am forty years old.
Very sorry to hear your situation but I don’t think I can help. For one I’m not sure I have the answer but also don’t have enough information. High b12 or taking B12 doesn’t usually cause issues. When it does it suggests inflammation so I would focus on immune system regulation
Do you know if there Is any difference / benefits from taking 5-MTHF rather than the synthetic folic acid with Methotrexate?
If u don’t have genetic problem w folate metabolism there should be no difference
If you have MTHFR genetic mutation, my personal advice out of personal experience is not to take syntethic folic acid with Metrotrexate. I did, and was feeling terribile. Then switched to active form, and huge difference there.
I know this is old but I have a question: When you say digestive issues could that be heartburn or indigestion? I notice I get this when I take Methylfolate and b12 together. Otherwise I feel awesome.
Yes that heartburn counts as a digestive issue.
dr, I am taking methyl folate everyday and everytime I take it I feel sick and have loose stools. My levels are all normal and good. I am on week 9 of my pregnancy.
Hi, I'm 29 yrs old and trying to concieve. I've started taking folic acid 1 month ago - 1 mg per day, but now I'm afraid it was too much. Could this inhibit the ovulation? I have tested for 10 days in a row this month and still didn't get a positive ovulation test. Thank you!
No folic acid won’t affect hormone cycling especially at that low dose.
Hi, I just found your channel & enjoying your topics. I take a bcomplex supplement & I eat enough meats, because I'm on strict whole food keto - but yet my vit b12 & folate were both low. My homocysteine levels were a bit high, so I'm trying to figure out what to do. My dr says just increase my liposomal b complex...but I would appreciate your thoughts. Also need to lower homocysteine. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing!! You can get a lot of details on homocysteine in my new book "Don't Be Deficient" www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09KN2MCW7/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B09KN2MCW7&linkCode=as2&tag=swintegrati0f-20&linkId=cc0c68215b8f37fbf9b9d2615c3af225
Hello what amount of Folate acid is in you b complex and your folate supplement? I personally take a b complex that has 400 mcg of Folate and I’ve started to take a 1200 mcg folate acid every Sunday and Wednesday. I would recommend to make sure to drink plenty of water with all vitamins. I weight 190 pounds and am 5”6. Please be careful you always need to check before taking supplements. God bless you on your health journey✌️
Thanks for the vid! In terms of reducing side effects of 5mg folic acid do you have an opinion on whether it would be better to take half a tablet a day, or to take a whole tablet every 2 days?
It’s methylfolate not folic acid that usually causes the side effects. In terms of your question I can’t say.
Hi, I’m 20 week pregnant and have been using a multivitamin prenatal that has 1000 mcg of folate throughout pregnancy. Do you think it’s ok to continue daily use until the end or I should lower the dosage?
Can’t give you specific advice, but you definitely need more folate when you’re pregnant, and this video is not addressing that population.
Hi Dr why patient who mental breakdowns when take folic Acid 5mg for 5 days get dizziness back they treat mental breakdowns get well ready they plan to get baby
Hi..I am taking prenatal gummies which contains 240 mcg of folic acid (perday 3 gummies) and my doctor prescribed vitofol ultra tablet which contains 640 mcg of folic acid.. but today only (9 week of pregnancy) i get to know i should take any one of this.. but 30 days i have used this two medicines. does it will affect my baby
I'm not sure your question you should take extra folic acid/folate when you are pregnant.
I am taking folic acid 5mg daily from nearly 1 year after my miscarriage. I am trying to conceive from last 6 months and now I know I am taking high dosage what should I do? I am on letrozol cycles I am facing fatigue and headache problems. Should I stop taking folic or switch to 400mcg.plz reply
You should ask your fertility specialist bc there are a lot of things that determine how much folate you need. Most people only need 800 for fertility though.
I didn’t hear in the video what LAB # means you’re on the high end of folate⁉️ Did I miss it⁉️
it is in a separate video czcams.com/video/cKefqmYPz6w/video.html
Is taking folic acid 5mg daily for an elderly too much or not?
Hi Benyapa, while this seems like a black and white question. There is not a one size fits all answer for this. It depends why you are taking 5 mg. For instance if you are just taking it because you think you should, this seems like a high dose. On the other hand if you are taking this, because, you feel better, a doctor told you, some blood levels are more optimal, then maybe it is not so high. Also keep in mind your body is not static and therefor your vitamin and supplement regimens should not be either. I now this answer does not make it easy to "know" what to do, the body is pretty complex though. Hope his helps.
Hi. I recently had a miscarriage. I was wondering if taking 800mcg folic acid tablets was the cause of that?
No I do not.
I'm taking folic acid 5mg for vitiligo does it help?
Hi Big Poppa, no I don't think so.
Did you say that a gram is 1000 micrograms? I believe you do 9:10. That of course is not so. One gram is a 1.000.000 micrograms. You must be thinking of milligrams; milli=1000, thus a thousands of a gram. 1000 micrograms is 0.001 grams.
Looks like I did. I think someone else pointed that out as well. i obviously know the difference but just for the record 1-2 mg is when the dose of methylfolate starts to get high (not 1-2 grams) some take as much as 15 mg but that is usually too much for most peopled.
@@swintegrative I wasn´t in doubt you knew..
@@michaeljensen5627well thanks for clarifying for everyone. We appreciate it.
Woah! You do this in your other video too, understanding MTHFR. I was shocked to hear 1 GRAM! You should probably make an edit for both of these two videos to protect the public health.
I wish I could edit the video but don't thinks that is possible. i will check. @@GriffithJones
Hi I'm about 4-5weeks expecting ,my prenatal is about 1000 mcg folate is that ok ?
Hi Ashlee The standard dose of folic acid in a prenatal is 800mcg. When people have MTHFR they should be using methylfolate. If you don't know you have this then it should be fine.
@@swintegrative thank you for your reply, please advise me if in pregnancy we take folate that's over the recommendation 800 mcg , will it cause increase chances of autism or other disorders ?
Ashlee, If you don't have MTHFR mutation, I don't see how it could. That said this is a question you need to ask your doctor because they have a more nuanced understanding of your unique health situation.
Your comments did not clarify anything for me….confused more than I was before…. Have not answered my question as to why my Dr said to stop taking folate…why would she say that… I only had what was in the multi B complex, but have stopped which means all of the B complex is not being taken either….I have Hashimotos and she also dropped my Levothyroxine to 75 from 100….why is my folate too much?
Sorry to hear that. Not sure why your doctor would say that. Possibly from a high blood test result…?
Hi Doctor. I didn't realise and accidentally continued taking 5mg of folic acid from the point I went to the clinic (~7 weeks) till today (~18 weeks). I thought I had to finish the dose given (3 months) and was not aware that it was only meant for the first trimester. Problem is I had my gynae visit at 12 weeks who prescribed some supplements including one that has 0.9mg of folic acid. I've been taking both from week 12 to week 18, meaning I've been taking 5.9mg for the first half of my second trimester. Can this cause defects and increase the risk of autism in my baby? I'm so worried and I have no way of contacting my gynae to ask until my next visit..
Hi Aishah, I have never heard of folic acid causing birth defects or autism.
Not enough folate will cause neural tube defects. Neural tube starts to form around day 10 and if you're deficient, the fetus might be at risk of B9-related developmental defects. Also, taking the active form, not folic acid which is found in many of the over-the-counter prenatals might be needed especially for those with MTHFR gene mutation.
Hi Aishah could you plz update me how are you now and your baby's health. I am worried too because I was taking 4mg folate I didn't realise I was taking too much and I am pregnant
@@sadiaalvi1699 hi Sadia, baby is thank goodness healthy and well! He is now almost 9 months old
Hi Aishah, what dose of folic acid did you continue past 18 weeks . Please let me know . Thanks
I just found out am 6 months pregnant and I haven't started taking any medicine cus I haven't gone to antenatal ...am asking if I can start taking folic acid ... But the baby kick's and kicks a lot
How's your baby doing?
Hello sir, can I take L- Methylfolate(1mg) and folic acid(5mg) together? My doctor prescribed to take these together at night..I am 9 weeks into pregnancy. Thanks in advance!!!!
If that’s what your doctor prescribed stick with it.
Hi Sandhaya, are you continuing with the same dose throughout the pregnancy?
Hiii doc i am pregnant and this is my 1st month and today by mistake I took folic acid 400mcg and choline 450mg two times, one in morning and second in night .. is it a big problem sir ? Will it lead to abortion?? Please reply sir plzzz rply..
hi, I am a 31 years old man and obvious i am not pregnant but i have deficiency of vitamin b12 and my doctor advised me to take tablet which has 6.5mg folate and Pyridoxine Hydrochloride 22 mg and vitamin b12 1500 mcg, is it too much folate for everyday? because i am not deficient to folate..
It’s hard to say why your doctor recommended that one. It is a bit of a higher dose of folate.
@@swintegrative but will it cause any harm? doctor advised me for 2 months.. i heard excess folate pass through urine
I see you have the 1g = 1000mcg mistake in the video description as well. Pethaps a quick edit?
Yep
I'm on a carnivore diet and take a probiotic that has 400 mcg folate in it! Is that safe?!🙏🏼
yes typically that is a small dose
Video starts at 1:30
Hi doctor,
I am in my 5 th week of pregnancy at 35 years. I take prenatal vitamin with 600 mcg folic acid along with a 1 mg folic acid supplement. Is it safe? Will a dose above 1 mg daily cause autism? Or do i just take 600 mcg folic acid daily?
Autism… not sure hat I know of. You definitely need more when you are pregnant
@@swintegrative thank you
10 mg folic acid per day is safe for women who is not expected?
I just realized I’ve been taking folic acid 5mg for 11 days now and I’m so scared.
Lulu, I would not worry if you don't have any symptoms.
Hello Doctor, please help me:
My wife is pregnant at week 11, she made folate test and the result (48 nmol), is that considered high level? Anything to worry about? Because I have read many scary things in google regarding the high level of folate during pregnancy and it was linked with Autism and brain issues, taking into consideration that I have one autistic child
It would be highly appreciated doctors if you help me, I have asked the doctors who my wife follow up her pregnancy with them and they said nothing to worry and you can continue using 400 mg, but I still not convinced to be honest
well you are not the first to ask but I am not familiar with those studies. Generally speaking you need more folate for the developing child so more is better than too low but as to the connection with high folate and autism IDK. Perhaps the connection is poor conversion to the active form due to MTHR... maybe a future video.
Hi sir , I am 17 week pregnant and I tested for folic acid and my levels are also showing >40 . I am taking folate 1020 mcg per day even before getting pregnant Even I have a kid with autism …. I am equally worried as u were … I want to know what u did after that ? And did your wife continued 400mcg folic after 11 weeks or u stopped taking ….what are folic leaves now
@@rashmiva4864 she still taking 400 mg, I have repeated the folic acid test for her and the results shows the level is within the range (not high not law), I dont know what right and what is wrong, and I have consulted 3-4 doctors just to clarify me on the folic acid and how its inflated levels may impact the brain, all of them did not take my concerns seriously, they just said nothing to worry about, they said high level better than low and body expels the access of folate with the urine 🤷♂️
I got tired from the reading and searching in this topic, so I give up and decided to follow the recommendations of her doctor, her doctor recommended to continue taking pregnant-care original tablet which contain vitamins and 400 mg of the folic acid
My concerns still there but I cant do anything because even doctors don’t know how Autism is developed!
@@rashmiva4864 I have replied you but I dont know why the reply did not exist. Anyway, she still taking vitamins tablet contain 400mg of folic acid. I have raised my concern regarding the high level of folate to number of doctors but non has consider it seriously, they just said high better than low, they said the body expels the access with urine 🤷♂️
I dont know if I am over-thinker or the doctor are not aware of the studies regarding the impacts of high level or these studies are incorrect, I dont know anything and I just give up and stopped searching and reading
Further, few days ago I have repeated the test for her and the result shows folic within the normal range (not high not low)
After this long story, I did not concluded anything 🤷♂️
My hs crp went to 9.09 when I started talking 6mg methyl golate
I would guess that is coincidence but hard to say.
is 450 micrograms of folate too much ?
That’s not a large dose but everyone is a bit unique with methylfolate
Dear Sir.
My wife is pregnant. 10 week running. Her age is 34. She has thyroid problem. Good news is that her thyroid is now in control. Doctor advised her 4 week ago to take folic acid 5 mg. two times in a day. But she did mistake, she take folic acid more. 5 mg folic acid teblet taken in a day 3 times. Will any problem for my baby and wife? We are worried about our new baby?Please tell me.
Hi Sayeed, I would not worry it is highly unlikely.
@@swintegrative Thanks Doctor.
Does light electric shock (1/2 seconds) affect 2/3 months pregnancy? Not very, just light shake hand to operate fan switch. Plaese tell me doctor.
I was on 10 mg folic acid on 10 days. I m pregnant and scared of autism in child
Hi Priyanka, That is a really big dose of folic acid but I don't know of any studies where that would cause autism. Is that your concern?
Now i m on lower dose. But yes it is my concern.
I just dont want to harm my baby
I don't know for sure but I doubt it will cause autism. Be sure to get lots of uncooked greens that contain natural folates.
Thank you so much.
9:13 - dude... 1gram is not a 1000 micrograms but a 1000 milligrams !!!
Anyway..., this is the first video (ever) i watched from you... and while you probabaly mean it well, you should work in a different, more structured and faster way. You repeat yourself a lot...
Listen to your own video like someone who already knows a bit about this and who is going to take notes of the most important things said. Then you'll see that ALL the content that was meaninfull could've been said in just a few minutes... 10 minutes for this info was way to long...
Just my 5 cents...
Hi Bart, thanks for the feedback. I know. I cringe at some of my older videos but that is how we learn. I think you will find my newer videos more succinct.
Sir I'm 7month pregnant taking twice a day 1.5 mg folic acid it's harm full for my baby
no it is not
Thank you I'm scarred to taking tablets thank you sir
Sir can i take the folic acid daily once 1.5 mg
@@meghanasmeghanas5234Hey! How is the baby now?
How is your baby now
That wasn't comprehensive enough to be useful!
Seriously? this is not helpful at all
Hi Valeria, Im curious what you were hoping to find that was missing. Maybe I can create a video to address your question(s) .