I take regularly folic acid. Are there any dangerous side effects?

Vitamin B complex has eight B vitamins. These are water soluble vitamins are are important for our health. In normal doses there are no side effects. In overdoses there are side effects. This is the reason I advise you to consult with your doctor before you take any supplement.

Folic acid or folate is vitamin B9. The daily recommended intake is:

0 – 6 months -----------30 microg
6 – 12 months ---------50 microg
1 – 18 years ------------100 – 400 microg
18 years + ---------------400 microg
Pregnant -----------------1000 microg
Lactating -----------------1000 microg

Deficiency symptoms and risk factors include:

• Haemolytic and megaloblastic anaemia
• Abnormal faetal development, eg. Neural tube defect
• Vascular degeneration
• High homocynteine levels
• Low energy
• Confusion
• Forgetfulness
• Irritability
• Depression
• High blood pressure
• Insomnia (sleep disorders)
• Risk to develop some cancers
• Cervical dysplasia

The overdose side effects include:

• Increases LDL/HDL ratio
• Nausea
• Bloating
• Zinc and potassium deficiency
• Loss of appetite
• May mask anaemia from vitamin B12
• Kidney damage
• Worsens some forms of childhood leukemia
• Increased risk to develop some cancers from vitamin B complex supplements
• Reduces or interferes with the effectiveness of methotrexate (an anticancer drug used in chemotherapy), anticonvulsant drugs, barbiturates, estrogen and sulfasalazine

Folate is the natural form of vitamin B9 and folic acid is the synthetic form. Anything in excess is dangerous for our health and a doctor can give you always the right advice.

My husband bought vitamins to reduce homocysteine which is a risk factor for heart diseases, is it correct?

Homocysteine is an amino acid and for its synthesis, metabolism and excretion we need vitamin B6, B12 and folic acid.

Even in Western countries many are deficient in vitamin B6 and folic acid. The medicine to reduce the amount is vitamin B complex supplementation. It is not necessary to buy extra vitamin preparation with only vitamin B6, B12 and folic acid which are much costlier than the vitamin B complex tablets.

Is it necessary to take folic acid if we plan a baby?

Yes, it is important to take folic acid before you plan because in the very early stages of pregnancy, folic acid plays a vital role in cell formation and division. It can significantly minimise the risk of giving birth to a baby with a congenital neural tube defect.

Dark green leafy vegetables, pulses, legumes and nuts are rich in folic acid, but it is always impossible to take the daily intake from these foods because so much we cannot eat. So I recommend folic acid supplementation if you plan for a baby. It is good as a part of vitamin B complex tablet, it is not necessary to buy costly folic acid mono preparations. If you want to buy a vitamin B complex without folic acid, then it is not a real vitamin B complex, then better do not buy it.