How much Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid) should I take daily?

Vitamin B9, commonly known as folic acid, is an essential nutrient that plays a vital role in various bodily functions, including DNA synthesis and repair, cell division, and growth. The daily intake of folic acid is a subject of research, particularly in relation to specific health conditions and life stages such as pregnancy.

Key insights from the research papers on the daily intake of folic acid are as follows:

A daily administration of 400 micrograms (µg) of folic acid, combined with vitamin B12 and vitamin B6, may be sufficient to reduce homocysteine levels in patients with coronary artery disease, and higher doses did not result in significantly greater reductions.
For the prevention of neural-tube defects (NTD), a daily intake of 400 µg of folic acid is recommended, with evidence suggesting that this amount significantly reduces the risk of NTDs.
A daily dose of 200 µg of folic acid is also effective against NTD and is considered safer for the general population, while 100 µg daily may still produce an important decrease in NTD.
Higher doses of folic acid, such as 5 mg daily, can lead to higher blood folate concentrations and a faster rate of folate accumulation in women of childbearing age.
Lactating women consuming 1000 µg (1 mg) of folic acid daily can have high circulating serum folic acid, especially if their serum total folate is above 80 nmol/L.
In pediatric patients with sickle cell disease, a daily dose of 700 µg of folic acid was found to be optimal, and increasing the dose to 1000 µg did not further decrease homocysteine levels.
While the effects of higher intakes are not well known and could complicate the diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency, it is generally advised to keep total folate consumption at less than 1 mg per day, except under the supervision of a physician.
Doses of folic acid greater than or equal to 0.8 mg are typically required to achieve the maximal reduction in plasma homocysteine concentrations, but doses of 0.2 and 0.4 mg are associated with most of this effect.
A higher dose of 5 mg of folic acid daily is suggested for women who do not achieve therapeutic systemic levels of folate needed to prevent neural tube defects, to be taken several months before conception until the end of the first trimester.

In conclusion, the recommended daily intake of folic acid varies depending on the individual's health status, life stage, and specific health goals. For the general population, a daily intake of 400 µg is commonly recommended to reduce the risk of neural tube defects and may also be sufficient for lowering homocysteine levels in patients with coronary artery disease. Higher doses, such as 5 mg daily, are suggested for specific populations, such as women planning pregnancy who have not achieved protective folate levels. However, it is generally advised to keep total folate consumption below 1 mg per day unless supervised by a physician.

How much Vitamin B9 (Folic Acid) should I take daily?

Summary

Sources and full results

Reduction of homocysteine levels in coronary artery disease by low-dose folic acid combined with vitamins B6 and B12.

Daily administration of 400 micrograms of folic acid combined with vitamin B12 and B6 may be equivalent to higher doses in reducing homocysteine levels in patients with coronary artery disease.

Minimum effective dose of folic acid for food fortification to prevent neural-tube defects

200 micrograms of folic acid daily is effective and safer for food fortification to prevent neural-tube defects, while 400 micrograms may be unnecessarily high for many people.

Recommendations for the use of folic acid to reduce the number of cases of spina bifida and other neural tube defects.

0.4 mg of folic acid per day is recommended for all women of childbearing age to reduce the risk of spina bifida and other neural tube defects.

Steady state folate concentrations achieved with 5 compared with 1.1 mg folic acid supplementation among women of childbearing age.

5 mg folic acid supplementation for 30 weeks in women of childbearing age resulted in higher blood folate concentrations and a faster rate of folate accumulation compared to 1.1 mg folic acid.

Lactating Canadian Women Consuming 1000 µg Folic Acid Daily Have High Circulating Serum Folic Acid Above a Threshold Concentration of Serum Total Folate.

Lactating Canadian women consuming 1000 g of folic acid daily may have high serum folic acid levels proportional to overall folate concentrations, potentially leading to unmetabolized folic acid.

Optimization of folic acid, vitamin B12, and vitamin B6 supplements in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease

Optimal dosages of 700 g folic acid, 3 U.S. 1989 RDA vitamin B12, and 3 U.S. 1989 RDA vitamin B6 in pediatric sickle cell disease patients may reduce their risk of endothelial damage.

Folic acid in pregnancy

Daily intake of 400 g of folic acid from fortified food and vitamin supplements during pregnancy can reduce the risk of neural tube defects by 50%.

Folic Acid in Pregnancy

The correct dosage of folic acid for pregnant women is 300 pig. daily, but the two articles differ in their recommendations for correct dosage and potential risks from overdosage.

Dose-dependent effects of folic acid on blood concentrations of homocysteine: a meta-analysis of the randomized trials.

Daily doses of > or =0.8 mg folic acid are typically required to achieve the maximal reduction in plasma homocysteine concentrations, with 0.2 and 0.4 mg doses accounting for 60% and 90% of this maximal effect.

Folic acid: the right dose.

The new Motherisk Guidelines suggest 5 mg/d of folic acid to prevent neural tube defects, with a higher dose recommended several months before conception and throughout the first trimester.

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