Your guide to Folic Acid Side Effects

Folic acid is a relatively safe nutrient and may be taken in supplement form with relatively few folic acid side effects.

The primary benefit of folic acid is its ability to prevent birth defects, such as neural tube defects, Spina Bifida and anencephaly.

The FDA has recommended women of childbearing years, to get a daily recommended allowance of folic acid, in order to prevent these birth defects, as they often occur before a woman even realizes she is pregnant.

These defects normally originate in very early pregnancy, after it is too late for a woman to take folic acid to combat the defects. While there are some folic acid side effects, for the most part these are mild. The tremendous benefits far outweigh any negative side effects in most cases.

The side effects of folic acid include: mild upset stomach, nausea, loss of appetite and flatulence. Further reports indicate that in some circumstances individuals may experience problems sleeping while taking folic acid as well as attain a bitter taste in their mouth.

There have also been reports of individuals consuming folic acid that experience a sense of confusion, difficulty concentrating, or impaired judgment, although these reports have been rare.

Individuals who take medications to prevent seizures should be cautious adding folic acid to their regimen, as folic acid has a tendency to reduce the effectiveness of anti-seizure medication.

Individuals with a history of seizures should consult their doctors before taking folic acid. Studies also indicate that folic acid may interact with the body’s ability to absorb Vitamin B12 and zinc. The intake of folic acid also may make it difficult to diagnose pernicious anemia.

We created a more detailed article on folic acid here also if you would like some further information.

Folic acid occurs naturally, however ,some manufacturers attempt to market supplements and multivitamins that contain a synthetic version of this nutrient. Some of the folic acid side effects are thought to be related to ingestion of synthetic folic acid rather than natural folic acid.  

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