Folic Acid

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Jan 27, 2023

Pros & Cons


Folic Acid Pros and Cons

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  • Folic acid is available in an affordable generic version.
  • Taking folic acid supplementation rarely causes serious side effects.
  • Getting enough folic acid during early pregnancy can lower the risk of neural tube defects in an unborn baby.

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  • High-dose folic acid supplementation can cause an unpleasant taste in the mouth, stomach upset, and loss of appetite.
  • Folic acid supplementation can only treat folate deficiency anemia. It should not be used to treat other types of anemia, such as anemia due to low vitamin B12 levels.