Folic acid TOO high?

[splath]

At my last appointment, they checked my folic acid level, which showed above the 'normal' range (greater than 20), and on my print out it says to stop taking a supplemental folic acid if I am taking it (I'm not, I'm only taking a prenatal). I haven't had my follow-up appointment yet, but should I be concerned? Should I stop taking my prenatal? I'm so confused...

[~Adorkable~]

wow, how much in in your prenatal? some have just a ton in them and if you happen to eat lots of high folate foods i can see that happening

[splath]

I think it has 800 mcg (100% rda for pregnant women). I don't eat a lot of breakfast cereal, and only eat enriched pasta about once a week. I'm kind of baffled. I have been taking a prenatal for close to 5 years now though. I wonder if that makes a difference.

[m0xxie]

Just curious, why did they check your folic acid level in the first place? Is it a standard test, or did they have some reason to believe there was a problem? I ask because I'm just 5w pregnant, and haven't run across this test yet.

[splath]

They ran it with my other routine pregnancy bloodwork (for a few STDs, vitamin D, iron, platelets, etc).

[WaitingForKiddos]

Extra Folic acid will be released in your urine.

Nothing at all wrong with big doses of folic acid during pregnancy, in fact big doses, 1-4mg, are often prescribed for women with a history of loss, prom/pprom.

I took about 2-3mg the first few months and this baby is just dandy!

[~Adorkable~]

here is what i found when looking for referanced to high folic acid amounts
It's from a very though entry on wikipedia

"[I]

Health risk of too much folic acid:
Supplemental folic acid should not exceed the UL to prevent folic acid from masking symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency.

[Arianwen1174]

Thank you, ladies--I was also wondering about too much folic acid.

[splath]

Thanks everyone
And thanks to you, too, Adorakable. That's a great link.

[nbergeron]

My midwife advised that I stop taking my prenatal b/c of the Folic Acid. I have asthma and allergies and she said there is preliminary research (I do not have the author's info...sorry) suggesting a link between high levels of folic acid and asthma in the developing fetus. I too have been on a prenatal for ~3-4 years now. Her concern is that many foods are now supplemented w/ extra folic acid. I am now taking a regular multi-vit.

[splath]

Originally Posted by nbergeron

My midwife advised that I stop taking my prenatal b/c of the Folic Acid. I have asthma and allergies and she said there is preliminary research (I do not have the author's info...sorry) suggesting a link between high levels of folic acid and asthma in the developing fetus. I too have been on a prenatal for ~3-4 years now. Her concern is that many foods are now supplemented w/ extra folic acid. I am now taking a regular multi-vit.

Thanks I will mention this to my midwife. Adorkable's link above references that study, but states those results were found when taken during the 3rd trimester.

[karen1968]

There is also research that higher-than-recommended supplementation of folic acid can help prevent a recurrence of pre-eclampsia. I am taking an extra 800mg of folic acid for this reason (total of 1200mg if you include what is in my pre-natal). I haven't gotten results back from my initial blood testing, so I don't know if this extra supplementation is causing any problems. I don't have any respiratory issues myself, and there is no asthma in my or DH's families.

[~Adorkable~]

I think one of the important things when taking high levels is that you take them with a b-complex so that you are getting all them together and then you can feel safer that your b12 levels for instance will be good as well, since they can get out of balance and not show the signs.

[teeg1973]

Interesting.....I had never heard of having too high levels of folic acid!

FWIW - I am on 5 mg (yes, that is correct) a day due to homozygous MTHFR. I know those with MTHFR in general need higher levels of folic acid because we can't process/absorb it properly, but I wonder if in these instances it is also possible to have too much? Also, I take methylfolate which is supposed to be easier for your body (more like what you get from foods).

Tracy