Folic acid and nausea

[Cat-a-Tonic]

I've been taking folic acid supplements for awhile now. I used to get the tablets from Whole Foods, but that store is kind of pricey so recently I got a new bottle from Target. I experienced several days of nausea around the time that I started taking the new brand of tablets. I thought maybe I got a bad batch or something, as I had never had an issue before, so I tossed that bottle and got yet another brand. Once again, nausea! Pretty bad nausea that prevented me from working out properly and again it has lasted several days.

I googled and found this article. Apparently nausea is a common side effect of folic acid supplements, which I didn't know! Diarrhea and depression are the other two they listed. In other words, all the things I don't need! I'm confused though because I was taking 800 mg of folic acid for awhile and both of the newer bottles are also 800 mg. It should all be the same thing, right? Why would a change in brand of folic acid suddenly cause me to experience nausea? At any rate, I'm quitting folic acid for now. It's just not worth the side effects. Anybody else experience something like this?

http://www.livestrong.com/article/341906-side-effects-of-folic-acid-tablets/

 

[David]

First, never trust livestrong as a resource. It may be correct but I find their information not to be correct far too often. In my opinion, their business model creates high likelihood of inaccuracies because they pay people to churn out articles so the information isn't always vetted very well.

Second, why are you taking folic acid in the first place? Were you deficient in folate? And are you taking any other B Vitamins?

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

I was just kind of taking it on a whim - I've been on the fence for awhile about having kids (probably don't want any but you never know and the clock is ticking). And I know that to prevent birth defects, women need to have folic acid in their system for a certain amount of time prior to getting pregnant. So I was taking it as a "just in case", because if I do go crazy and decide I want a baby, I obviously want a healthy one.

I take 2 other B vitamins - B12 (I was never deficient in it as far as I know, but it seems to help with my migraines & headaches), and biotin (my hair started falling out when I was on Entocort, and someone on the forum recommended biotin to me and it stopped the hair loss - I still take it just in case, because I don't want to go bald!).

I didn't realize livestrong isn't very accurate, I will look for better sources next time. Thanks!

 

[David]

I wouldn't recommend taking it on a whim. Various things:

1. For your age group, the tolerable upper intake is 1000mcg/day. And most people get plenty of folic acid because lots of foods are fortified with it (which I avoid like the plague). So what MAY have been happening is the original folic acid you were taking was crap and the new forms actually had 800mcg of bioavailable folic acid and you're basically overdosing now. Just a guess of course.

2. Folic acid is not folate. Folate is the natural form of the vitamin you get from dietary sources. You really can't get too much folate. Folic acid is the synthetic form and doesn't work exactly like folate AND can interact negatively with other stuff such as zinc.

3. My wife and I are TTC and I won't let her take folic acid. We just increased her dietary sources of folate. Potential problem solved.

4. Taking just one form of a B vitamin can cause imbalances in other B vitamins according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Is someone tests deficient in folate and can't get enough via diet? Absolutely supplement. But I definitely wouldn't supplement it blindly and I think your body is trying to tell you that.

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Thanks David! That's a lot of information to absorb. I see my GP next week anyway so I'll mention this to him and see what he thinks. That's interesting that I may have been overdosing and would probably explain the nausea!

 

[David]

Overdosing may have been too strong a word but I could see it negatively impacting other vitamins/minerals which then lead to nausea. OR there could be an ingredient in the new supplements you're allergic to. Compare the, "other ingredients".

 

[xX_LittleMissValentine_Xx]

I remember from my degree that the evidence supporting benefits from taking folic acid for preventing neural birth defects is so strong that they recommend any woman of childbearing age to supplement just in case of pregnancy.
So much so that some countries fortify their flour with it.
I'm not trying to disregard what you say David, I'm just chiming in!
I have 400mg in my head but I'm not sure if that is correct so I'll have to check my notes!

 

[Cat-a-Tonic]

Thanks LMV, that's what my thought was too - to take it "just in case" because there are great benefits "if" (big IF) I happen to become pregnant. I'm going to have to look at my flour label and see if it has any folic acid in it! I was taking 800 mg (or mcg? Going to have to re-check that label too) of folic acid so I wonder if taking 400 would still make me nauseous. Not really jazzed to try, I really hate nausea! Hmm, this has given me a lot to ponder.

 

[David]

Folic acid fortification has no doubt reduced the number of birth defects such as neural tube defects. However, it is very frustrating that we choose to fortify our food with a synthetic vitamin that does NOT work like folate and has side effects instead of simply educating people about eating healthier. Giving everyone high doses of folic acid just plain isn't a good idea in my opinion just as we wouldn't give everyone high doses of any other vitamin or mineral unless they need it. For another perspective on the folate/folic acid, read this.

 

[plaidknitter]

I think it is also important to keep in mind that folic acid does not 100% prevent birth defects. It only applies to neural tube defects, and it only reduces the risk. It does not eliminate it. My daughter has a NTD, and I know of many mothers who were taking prenatal vitamins and/or folic acid and still had kids with NTD's.

 

[xX_LittleMissValentine_Xx]

Good point plaidknitter - this goes for all dietary/lifestyle advice. You could do everything right and still get something you have been trying to prevent.

 

[xX_LittleMissValentine_Xx]

Ok - I got the 400 bit right but it is micrograms not milligrams!
So I'm guessing you were taking 800micrograms cat?
Maybe try taking it down to 400.
My notes say from conception to 12th week of pregnancy.

 

[AlliRuns]

Ok - I got the 400 bit right but it is micrograms not milligrams!
So I'm guessing you were taking 800micrograms cat?
Maybe try taking it down to 400.
My notes say from conception to 12th week of pregnancy.

I remember that from school as well

 

[AlliRuns]

I stick to well known brands of supplements. The nutraceutical industry is not well regulated, so you never know if the label on the bottle is accurate and whether or not there are things in it that are not reported. That's not to say that the well known companies like Jamieson has any better QC than lesser known brands.

 

[Beach]

Different than folic acid, but reminded me of my mention of having trouble taking synthetic multi B vitamins, and niacin also. I've taken niacin in the past for cholesterol control, but stopped after awhile as I found it made me feel awful. The awful part didn't happen right awhile, it took awhile for that to happen. Saw a study out today mention similar health problems I experienced when taking niacin. Suspect that in part the problems I experienced could be due to the purity of the product, or maybe better said that the product doesn't work in a bubble.

"Serious side effects seen with failed Merck niacin drug"

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/09/us-heart-niacin-merck-idUSBRE9280G620130309

 

[sid]

Nothing on the topic to say but ..just wanna agree with David's first post where he says Livestrong articles cant be trusted really all the time...I dont know about paid articles but I have seen many a times that, things are really exaggerated to such an extent that people would end up getting more confused than learn anything....happned with me.. yeah..lol.

 

[tflock]

I am currently taking Folic acid and have been for over a year. I am using the supplement to combat the side effects that methotrexate causes. The methotrexate causes me bad nausea and a general "sick" feeling, since it is a cytotoxin to the body. If I take the folic acid, it does significantly reduce the side effects of the methotrexate, so for me it does the opposite of creating nausea or a sick feeling. I imagine since I am taking it for a specified reason that I do not experience the side effects you have mentioned.

 

[xX_LittleMissValentine_Xx]

What dosage are you taking tflock?
I have heard of it being used with methotrexate before now you mention it.

 

[SarahBear]

Folic acid tablets are usually prescribed with methotrexate because MTX depletes folate. I took folic acid while on methotrexate, but I can't remember the dosage or anything. It was by prescription, though. On the forum, it seems like most people on MTX get folic acid as well but I have seen some people who don't.

 

[nogutsnoglory]

Cat did you ever figure out if the Folic acid was causing your nausea? I'm pretty nauseous since taking it but have it prescribed along with my methotrexate. It's supposed to combat some of the side effects.