How much folic acid do I need?

If you’re sexually active and could become pregnant, take a multivitamin that contains 0.4 mg (400 mcg) of folic acid in it every day.

The label of the multivitamin will tell you the amount of folic acid or folate it has in it. Look for ‘folic acid’ or ‘folate’ on the label where the vitamins are listed.

Take the recommended daily dose of the multivitamin. More than the daily dose is not necessary and may give you too much of some vitamins and minerals. When taking multivitamin supplements, more is NOT better.

To help you to remember to take the multivitamin every day, set up a regular routine that works for you.
For example, take your multivitamin when you brush your teeth in the morning.