Folic Acid Intake Recommendations

All women who are capable of becoming pregnant should take 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) of the synthetic form of folic acid every day. The best way to do this is to take a daily multivitamin pill that contains this amount of folic acid. The Institute of Medicine also recommends:

• An increase in your daily intake of folic acid to 600 micrograms per day, once your pregnancy is confirmed

• 500 micrograms of folic acid daily for women who are breastfeeding

• 4000 micrograms of folic acid daily for women who have had a previous NTD-affected pregnancy (starting one month before the time they plan to become pregnant and throughout the first three months of pregnancy). During times when these high-risk women are not planning pregnancy, they should have 400 micrograms of folic acid per day.

It is recommended that you do not take more than 1 mg (1,000 micrograms) of folic acid daily. This is because a high intake of folic acid may hide a deficiency of vitamin B12. Many older people have vitamin B12 deficiency. However, folic acid is not toxic if you happen to take more than the recommended amount.

The Institute of Medicine also recommends that women eat a diet rich in foods that contain folate or folic acid. Check the labels on your food to find out the amount of folic acid it contains. And remember that the body more easily absorbs folic acid from vitamin supplements and fortified foods than it does folate from food.