Folic acid offers many different health benefits to the body, especially for women, but what happens when you use it too much? Is it still safe and effective? Learn with us through the following paragraphs of the article about the harms of folic acid when used in excessive quantities, who are the people who should be careful before using it and other information to pay attention to.

What are the side effects of folic acid?

Side effects of excess folic acid when used in larger than recommended amounts include:

1- Hiding Vitamin B12 deficiency

Increased intake of folic acid in the body can cause vitamin B12 deficiency to be masked, as the body uses vitamin B12 to make red blood cells and to maintain the function of the heart, brain and nervous system, and in the case of a deficiency of this vitamin can cause irreversible neurological damage.

Because the body uses folic acid and vitamin B12 in a similar way, a deficiency in either of them can cause similar symptoms, so folic acid supplements may mask the symptoms of anemia caused by vitamin B12 deficiency (megaloblastic anemia), which is one of the symptoms Fatigue, weakness, difficulty concentrating and shortness of breath.

So if you use folic acid supplements and feel these symptoms, you should consult your doctor and check the levels of vitamin B12 in the body.

2- Accelerate mental decline

The results of a scientific study indicated that one of the possible harms of folic acid is that there is a relationship between an increase in folic acid intake in the body and the rapid decline and deterioration of mental ability, especially in elderly people who suffer from a deficiency in vitamin B12 levels.

Another study suggested that people with high levels of folate and low levels of vitamin B12 were three and a half times more likely to lose brain function, compared to people with normal levels of folic acid and vitamin B12.

3- Slow brain development in fetuses during pregnancy

One of the most prominent benefits of folic acid during pregnancy is the development of the fetus’s brain and reducing the chances of birth defects, and due to the difficulty of obtaining the required percentage of it sometimes through foods only, folic acid supplements are usually used, but the increased use of these supplements during pregnancy can increase insulin resistance. And reduces brain development in fetuses, according to the results of some studies.

4- Increased risk of cancer recurrence

Some studies suggest that exposing healthy cells to adequate levels of folic acid can protect them from becoming cancerous, but exposure of cancer cells to high levels of folic acid can increase the likelihood of their growth and spread, but there is still a difference in research and its results in this regard, This relationship still needs further study.

Who should not use folic acid supplements?

After knowing some of the possible harms of folic acid, it should be noted that there are some people who should be careful and consult a doctor first before using folic acid. Among them are the following:

• People with epilepsy.
• People with type 2 diabetes.
• People with rheumatoid arthritis.
• People with lupus.
• People with inflammatory bowel disease.
• People with celiac disease.
• Sometimes people undergoing dialysis.

Some of the medications used to treat the above conditions interact with folic acid supplements, and these interactions may cause symptoms and side effects.

Are there alternatives to folic acid?

There is some evidence to suggest that taking a supplement containing L-5-methyltetrahydrofolate, the active form of folic acid, has some benefits and could be a suitable alternative and work more efficiently than regular folic acid supplements. Especially in people who are prone to an interaction between folic acid and other medicines that are used, but the doctor should be consulted first before switching any medicine to another and see if it is appropriate according to the general health condition or not.