The use of folic acid is popular among pregnant women due to its various benefits at that stage, but does it provide any special benefits for non-pregnant women? Get acquainted with us from the following paragraphs about the benefits of folic acid for non-pregnant women and the amount of it that should be used in the normal state, as well as some of the harms that must be carefully paid attention to.

Benefits of folic acid for non-pregnant women

Folic acid is widely used during pregnancy due to the multiple benefits it provides to the health of the mother and fetus, but folic acid can be used for non-pregnant women as well, as it can provide the following therapeutic benefits:

• It helps in the formation and growth of red blood cells, thus maintaining healthy blood.
• It is used to prevent and treat low levels of folic acid in the blood, or what is known as folate deficiency.
• It is also used in the prevention and treatment of high level of amino acid in the blood or Hyperhomocysteinemia.
• It is also used for many other health conditions such as:
  • Depression.
  • brain attack.
  • Deterioration of memory and thinking skills.

Dosage of folic acid for non-pregnant women

All women, whether pregnant or not, need a dose of up to 400 micrograms of folic acid daily, and pregnant women may need a higher dose of up to 800 micrograms. In some cases, the dose may be increased or decreased, and this is determined by the doctor according to the general health condition, so it is preferable to consult him first.

Non-pregnant folic acid doses can be obtained in one of the following ways:

1. Through food: Folic acid occurs naturally in some foods, such as spinach, nuts, and beans. It can also be found in fortified foods such as bread, pasta and breakfast cereals.
2. As a vitamin or supplement: Many multivitamin supplements contain close to 400 micrograms of folic acid, which is roughly the daily value your body needs.

Harmful effects of folic acid for non-pregnant women

After learning about the benefits and doses of folic acid for non-pregnant women, we must also talk about its potential harms, and it should be noted that the use of folic acid is usually safe, but sometimes some harms or side effects may appear that can be dealt with, such as:

• Feeling sick.
• Anorexia.
• Feeling bloated.
• the presence of gases

In very rare cases, allergic reactions to folic acid may occur, and if any of the following side effects appear, you should go to the hospital immediately:

• itching or redness of the skin;
• Blistering or peeling of the skin.
• The presence of wheezing while breathing.
• Feeling of tightness in the chest or throat.
• Having trouble breathing or speaking.
• Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

You should also talk to the doctor before using folic acid in the event of any of the following diseases in a non-pregnant woman, as the medicines used to treat these conditions interact negatively with folic acid:

• Epilepsy.
• Type 2 diabetes.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Lupus.
• Inflammatory bowel disease.
• Celiac disease.