ARTICLE: How much folic acid should I be taking?

Expert: Jill Stovsky, M.A. [See Biography]

Question: We are trying to get pregnant, and my doctor told me to start taking folic acid. The tablets I purchased are 1 milligram tablets, but I read that the recommended dose is 4 milligrams daily. In Canada, you need a prescription for the higher dose. How much folic acid should I be taking?
Jill Stovsky: The Canadian and the United States' recommended daily intake for all women of childbearing age is at least 400 micrograms (mcg), or 0.4 milligrams (mg). Taking folic acid before conception reduces the risk of neural-tube defects such as spina bifida.

During pregnancy, the recommended dose jumps up to 800 mcg, or 0.8 mg, a day. Of course, some women's needs are different. If you have a family history of neural-tube defects, you should probably get 4,000 mcg (or 4 mg) of folic acid a day. Talk to your doctor about how much you need before and after you conceive. If your over-the-counter supplement doesn't contain at least 400 mcg, ask for a prescription. Don't just take twice as many over-the-counter prenatal vitamins because you may get too much of some nutrients. Folic acid is a water-soluble vitamin, so your body will flush out the excess if you consume too much. For some women, there's an exception to this rule; getting too much folate may hide a B-12 deficiency, sometimes a problem for vegetarians. Ask your provider if you think you may be at risk. Be sure to take our folic acid quiz to find out more about this essential nutrient

Re: ARTICLE: How much folic acid should I be taking?

Most multi-vitamins have the recommended 400 mg of Folic Acid. That's what I take and my doctor said that was fine.