What is the recommended dose of Folic Acid?

- **RDA (adults):** 400 μg DFE/day - **For NTD prevention:** 400-800 μg daily, starting 4+ weeks before conception through first trimester - **For previous NTD pregnancy:** 4,000-5,000 μg (4-5mg) d...

Is Folic Acid safe to take daily?

Folic Acid is rated "Prescription Interactions" based on clinical evidence. - **At recommended doses:** Well tolerated, minimal side effects - **At 15mg/day:** Taste disturbances, insomnia, mood changes (limited data, no control groups) - **GI symptoms:** Possible at high doses - **Allergic reaction

Does Folic Acid interact with any medications?

Folic Acid has 4 known drug interactions, including interactions with Sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (malaria), Phenytoin, Methotrexate (cancer dose). Check with your doctor before combining with prescription medications.

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Ingredient Research

Graded against 173,636 supplements + 177 published clinical interactions, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, NIH DSLD

Folic Acid

STRONG EVIDENCEVitaminLast updated April 5, 2026

AVELOR SUMMARY

Folic acid is the synthetic form of folate (vitamin B9) — arguably the most important supplement for women planning pregnancy. Our research, from 19 meta-analyses and 147,000+ participants, confirms it prevents neural tube defects, reduces homocysteine, and may adjunctively improve depression when added to antidepressants. The critical safety concern: folic acid can mask vitamin B12 deficiency, allowing irreversible nerve damage to progress silently.

EVIDENCE GRADES

Homocysteine reductionStrong

Neural tube defect preventionStrong

Stroke risk reductionStrong

Pregnancy complicationsModerate

Depression (adjunct to antidepressants)Moderate

Cardiovascular eventsNo effect

CognitionNo effect

OPTIMAL DOSAGE

RDA (adults): 400 μg DFE/day
For NTD prevention: 400-800 μg daily, starting 4+ weeks before conception through first trimester
For previous NTD pregnancy: 4,000-5,000 μg (4-5mg) daily (medical supervision)
For homocysteine reduction: 800 μg daily (maximum benefit achieved here)
For depression (adjunct): L-methylfolate 15mg daily (prescription form)
For methotrexate side effect reduction: 500-1,000 μg daily
UL: 1,000 μg (1mg) from supplements — set to prevent masking B12 deficiency
Best forms: Folic acid (most stable, best studied), L-methylfolate (active form, bypasses MTHFR polymorphism — but less stable, content varies wildly: 0-280% of label)

Scan a supplement containing Folic Acid

DRUG INTERACTIONS

Sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (malaria)Severe

Reduces drug effectiveness

Avoid high-dose folic acid during malaria treatment.

PhenytoinSevere

Reduces drug levels

Monitor phenytoin levels when adding folic acid.

Methotrexate (cancer dose)Severe

Reduces drug effectiveness

Avoid with cancer-dose methotrexate. USE with low-dose methotrexate.

Fluorouracil/capecitabineSevere

Enhances drug toxicity

Do not supplement during fluorouracil-based chemotherapy.

SAFETY PROFILE

Side Effects

At recommended doses: Well tolerated, minimal side effects
At 15mg/day: Taste disturbances, insomnia, mood changes (limited data, no control groups)
GI symptoms: Possible at high doses
Allergic reactions (rare): Hives, itching, fever, anaphylaxis
B12 masking: The primary concern. Can make B12 deficiency invisible on blood tests while nerve damage continues.

Drug Interactions

Nutrient Depletions

Methotrexate — inhibits folate conversion; supplementation recommended with low-dose
Phenytoin, carbamazepine, barbiturates, valproic acid — can deplete folate
Bile acid sequestrants — may lower folate in children/adolescents
Pancreatic enzymes — can reduce folic acid absorption

Precautions

Pregnancy: Safe and essential. First-line for NTD prevention.
Breastfeeding: Safe.
B12 deficiency: Folic acid above 1,000 μg/day can mask B12 deficiency on blood tests. Always check B12 status.
Cancer patients: Complex interactions with chemotherapy drugs — consult oncologist.
MTHFR polymorphism: People with MTHFR variants may benefit from L-methylfolate instead of folic acid.

Quality Concerns

L-methylfolate supplements show wild variation: 0-280% of labeled amount in one study. Folic acid is more stable and reliable.

WADA Status

Not Prohibited.

WHO SHOULD BE CAREFUL

QUALITY CONCERNS

L-methylfolate supplements show wild variation: 0-280% of labeled amount in one study. Folic acid is more stable and reliable.

HOW AVELOR SCORES THIS

Present at 400-800 μg:✅ Green flag — standard, evidence-backed dose

Present as L-methylfolate:✅ Green flag — active form, good for MTHFR carriers

Above 1,000 μg without B12 also included:⚠️ Yellow flag — masking risk

In a product also containing B12:✅ Green flag — mitigates masking concern

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Scan Your Folic Acid Supplement Browse all ingredients

Independently graded against 173,636 indexed supplements with 177 published clinical interactions, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, and NIH DSLD | Last updated: April 5, 2026

Not medical advice. Based on published clinical research and systematic reviews.

Folic Acid · interaction landscape

3 flagged

Dangerous

Moderate

Timing

Pre-op

Safety

Folic Acid: Drug Interactions

Use with caution

Moderate interactions. Monitoring, timing separation, or dose adjustment may be required.

Methotrexate
Folic acid competes with methotrexate for folate receptors.
RiskReduced methotrexate efficacy for cancer treatment.
ActionIn cancer, avoid folic acid. In rheumatoid arthritis, use leucovorin or folinic acid prescribed by your rheumatologist.
SourceFDA label
Phenytoin (Dilantin)
Folic acid may reduce phenytoin levels.
RiskBreakthrough seizures.
ActionMonitor phenytoin levels when starting folic acid.
SourceClinical pharmacology
5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)
Folic acid (as leucovorin) is sometimes given with 5-FU to enhance its effect.
RiskIncreased toxicity and efficacy.
ActionOnly under oncologist supervision.
SourceOncology standard

Educational information only. This is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. Talk to your prescriber before starting, stopping, or combining any supplement with prescription medication.

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Ingredient Research

Graded against 173,636 supplements + 177 published clinical interactions, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, NIH DSLD

Folic Acid

STRONG EVIDENCEVitaminLast updated April 5, 2026

AVELOR SUMMARY

EVIDENCE GRADES

Homocysteine reductionStrong

Neural tube defect preventionStrong

Stroke risk reductionStrong

Pregnancy complicationsModerate

Depression (adjunct to antidepressants)Moderate

Cardiovascular eventsNo effect

CognitionNo effect

OPTIMAL DOSAGE

RDA (adults): 400 μg DFE/day
For NTD prevention: 400-800 μg daily, starting 4+ weeks before conception through first trimester
For previous NTD pregnancy: 4,000-5,000 μg (4-5mg) daily (medical supervision)
For homocysteine reduction: 800 μg daily (maximum benefit achieved here)
For depression (adjunct): L-methylfolate 15mg daily (prescription form)
For methotrexate side effect reduction: 500-1,000 μg daily
UL: 1,000 μg (1mg) from supplements — set to prevent masking B12 deficiency
Best forms: Folic acid (most stable, best studied), L-methylfolate (active form, bypasses MTHFR polymorphism — but less stable, content varies wildly: 0-280% of label)

Scan a supplement containing Folic Acid

DRUG INTERACTIONS

Sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (malaria)Severe

Reduces drug effectiveness

Avoid high-dose folic acid during malaria treatment.

PhenytoinSevere

Reduces drug levels

Monitor phenytoin levels when adding folic acid.

Methotrexate (cancer dose)Severe

Reduces drug effectiveness

Avoid with cancer-dose methotrexate. USE with low-dose methotrexate.

Fluorouracil/capecitabineSevere

Enhances drug toxicity

Do not supplement during fluorouracil-based chemotherapy.

SAFETY PROFILE

Side Effects

At recommended doses: Well tolerated, minimal side effects
At 15mg/day: Taste disturbances, insomnia, mood changes (limited data, no control groups)
GI symptoms: Possible at high doses
Allergic reactions (rare): Hives, itching, fever, anaphylaxis
B12 masking: The primary concern. Can make B12 deficiency invisible on blood tests while nerve damage continues.

Drug Interactions

Nutrient Depletions

Methotrexate — inhibits folate conversion; supplementation recommended with low-dose
Phenytoin, carbamazepine, barbiturates, valproic acid — can deplete folate
Bile acid sequestrants — may lower folate in children/adolescents
Pancreatic enzymes — can reduce folic acid absorption

Precautions

Pregnancy: Safe and essential. First-line for NTD prevention.
Breastfeeding: Safe.
B12 deficiency: Folic acid above 1,000 μg/day can mask B12 deficiency on blood tests. Always check B12 status.
Cancer patients: Complex interactions with chemotherapy drugs — consult oncologist.
MTHFR polymorphism: People with MTHFR variants may benefit from L-methylfolate instead of folic acid.

Quality Concerns

L-methylfolate supplements show wild variation: 0-280% of labeled amount in one study. Folic acid is more stable and reliable.

WADA Status

Not Prohibited.

WHO SHOULD BE CAREFUL

QUALITY CONCERNS

L-methylfolate supplements show wild variation: 0-280% of labeled amount in one study. Folic acid is more stable and reliable.

HOW AVELOR SCORES THIS

Present at 400-800 μg:✅ Green flag — standard, evidence-backed dose

Present as L-methylfolate:✅ Green flag — active form, good for MTHFR carriers

Above 1,000 μg without B12 also included:⚠️ Yellow flag — masking risk

In a product also containing B12:✅ Green flag — mitigates masking concern

RELATED RESEARCH

Acerola Cherry

Amla

BiotinBiotin is a cofactor for five carboxylase enzymes critical to metabolism: pyruva

Amla

Scan Your Folic Acid Supplement Browse all ingredients

Independently graded against 173,636 indexed supplements with 177 published clinical interactions, sourced from PubMed, FDA CAERS, openFDA, and NIH DSLD | Last updated: April 5, 2026

Not medical advice. Based on published clinical research and systematic reviews.

Folic Acid · interaction landscape

3 flagged

Dangerous

Moderate

Timing

Pre-op

Safety

Folic Acid: Drug Interactions

Use with caution

Moderate interactions. Monitoring, timing separation, or dose adjustment may be required.

Methotrexate
Folic acid competes with methotrexate for folate receptors.
RiskReduced methotrexate efficacy for cancer treatment.
ActionIn cancer, avoid folic acid. In rheumatoid arthritis, use leucovorin or folinic acid prescribed by your rheumatologist.
SourceFDA label
Phenytoin (Dilantin)
Folic acid may reduce phenytoin levels.
RiskBreakthrough seizures.
ActionMonitor phenytoin levels when starting folic acid.
SourceClinical pharmacology
5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)
Folic acid (as leucovorin) is sometimes given with 5-FU to enhance its effect.
RiskIncreased toxicity and efficacy.
ActionOnly under oncologist supervision.
SourceOncology standard

Discover More

Explore

Browse All 834 Ingredients Browse All 20 Conditions