Folic acid overdose symptoms

Folic acid is another term used for vitamin B9 which comes from the complex of B vitamins. It cannot be produced by the human body, so it has to be sourced from various different types of food items. Folic acid is an important factor in numerous different bodily functions and processes. The best food sources of folic acid include pork, whole grains, legumes and dark green leafy vegetables.

Folic Acid Deficiency and Folic Acid Overdose

Even though folic acid can be easily ingested from certain food items, an unhealthy and imbalanced diet may lead to folic acid deficiency. This is why there are folic acid supplements available on the market. Unfortunately enough, a large number of people sometimes tend to overdo things, so they sometimes end up experiencing folic acid overdoses. These can be very dangerous as they may be associated with certain serious medical conditions. The symptoms of folic acid overdose are not that harmful but they definitely need to be treated as soon as possible. The most common symptoms of folic acid overdose include bitter taste in the mouth, insomnia and diarrhea.

Folic Acid Dosage

People are usually not associated with folic acid deficiency that often, but ones who suffer from liver diseases, kidney damage, digestive tract problems and alcoholism are the ones who are faced with such deficiency. It is also important to stress out that pregnant and breastfeeding women usually need much more folic acid than usual. A normal daily dosage of folic acid depends on the overall health of a person. A normal, healthy person does not require more than 400 micrograms of folic acid per day. Children up to 13 years of age usually do not need more than 300 micrograms of folic acid per day. Pregnant and breastfeeding women require somewhere around 600 micrograms of folic acid per day, while those who suffer from folic acid deficiency may require up to 1000 micrograms of folic acid per day.

Folic Acid Overdose Symptoms

Folic acid overdose is not that much of a problem, and in most cases excess amounts of folic acid get excreted through the urine. Those who still manage to somehow suffer from folic acid overdose usually experience certain symptoms such as seizures, hyperactivity, excitability, irritability, bitter taste in the mouth, psychotic behavior, zinc deficiency, skin rash, gas, nausea, other digestive problems, insomnia and diarrhea. In some people, high doses of folic acid may increase the risks of heart attacks as well.