How much folic acid do I need?
For most people who could become pregnant, you can get enough folate by taking a multivitamin that contains 0.4 mg (400 mcg) of folic acid every day and eating foods with folate.
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.
A multivitamin supplement doesn’t take the place of a healthy, well-balanced diet.
Talk with your health care provider about the amount of folic acid that’s right for you. You may need more folic acid if:
- you’ve had one pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect (NTD)
- you, your partner or a family member has a history of NTDs
- you or your partner have a personal or family history of other folic acid-related birth defects
If you have a health condition or take certain medicines you may also need more folic acid. These conditions and medicines may include:
- diabetes (type 1 or 2)
- gastrointestinal conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease; celiac disease; gastric bypass surgery; advanced liver disease
- a larger body size (body mass index > 30 kg/m2)
- Medicines including antiepileptic or other medicines that don’t allow folate to work properly in your body
Talk with your health care provider about the amount of folic acid that is right for you. You can also visit the Government of Canada site.
