What happens if you take too much folic acid?

In life, we will inevitably encounter some problems. If these problems are not solved in time, they will continue to confuse us. So it is good for pregnant women to supplement sufficient folic acid in life, but what will happen if they supplement too much? Why don’t we go and see it together?

Folic acid is a form of vitamin B that plays a key role in many metabolic processes. In some countries, folic acid is required to be added to cereals to ensure adequate intake by pregnant women and reduce the risk of brain and spinal defects in babies at birth. Babies born to pregnant women who consume too much folic acid are more likely to carry a gene called 677TMTHFR. Normally born babies are four times more likely to carry this gene than babies who die. Babies are more likely to survive if their mothers get enough folic acid. Today, the number of babies carrying this gene variant is increasing due to the popularity of folic acid-fortified foods.

Some scientists now believe that this genetic change has negative long-term health effects, potentially increasing the risk of heart disease, cancer and pregnancy complications in adults. But there are also studies showing that the risk of the disease is also prevalent when people's diets are lacking in folate. Scientists don't understand the reason either.

Although there is no conclusive evidence that folic acid is harmful to health, scientists from Australia and the UK have warned that artificially consuming large amounts of the vitamin may change the genetic composition of future humans. They also said that until the risks are clear, the government should consider reducing the folic acid content in recommended foods from 400 mg per day to 200 mg.

Everything has a limit. If you exceed this limit, even good things will become factors that make you unhealthy. So we can't be greedy, just enough is enough. Folic acid is a good thing for pregnant women, but don't take it in excess.