Why Is It Important to take Folic Acid Before and After Tubal Reversal Surgery?

Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center message board members discuss the correct dose of folic acid and are advised by Dr. Berger that all women who are planning or attempting to become pregnant should take a prenatal vitamin that includes folic acid, beginning well before they start trying to conceive.

The appropriate dose is 0.4 mg to 1 mg a day. Folic acid aids in the prevention of neural tube defects, which are abnormalities in the development of the spinal cord and brain. Dr. Berger recommends that women starting taking folic acid even before trying to conceive, because it is important to have a sufficient amount stored in the body prior to conception.

This is topic Folic Acid Question? in forum New Message Board Members at Tubal Reversal Message Board.

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Posted by sjr (Member # 9566) on April 21, 2008 08:55 PM:

Can you ever take too much Folic acid? My pre-nat.has 400 mcg and then one extra at 1mg?
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Posted by MS_LICIA (Member # 9456) on April 21, 2008 10:40 PM:

Not at all, that's exactly what i'm taking. My doc recommendz it.
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Posted by sjr (Member # 9566) on April 22, 2008 06:59 AM:

Thank you. Do you take them together or seperate?
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Posted by Gary S Berger MD (Member # 3) on April 22, 2008 07:16 AM:

For most people, 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams)is recommended. This has been shown to decrease the risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect. Women who have had a baby with a neural tube defect may be prescribed a higher dose. Recent research also suggests that folic acid supplementation started prior to pregnancy or very early in pregnancy also reduces the risk of preterm delivery. Interestly, new research shows that folic acid and zinc supplementation for men helps boost sperm counts.
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Posted by MS_LICIA (Member # 9456) on April 22, 2008 12:56 PM:

I guess I should have asked you what exactly did u mean by taking too much.I asked my Dr. the same thing & was told to just take 1/day. I did read somewhere what happens if too much is ingested, I'll post it as soon as I find it again. But I too, am taking 400mg FA. The minimum needed is 300 per day. That's why I answered the way I did. Sorry I misundertstood & if I misled you, I apologize for that too !!
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Posted by Webmaster (Member # 1) on April 23, 2008 07:08 PM:

Folic acid and folate (the anion form) are forms of the water-soluble Vitamin B9. These occur naturally in food and can also be taken as supplements. Folate gets its name from the Latin word folium ("leaf"). Our bodies use it to make new cells. Everyone needs folic acid. For women who are pregnant it can help prevent major birth defects of her baby’s brain and spine. These birth defects are neural tube defects or NTDs. Women need to take folic acid every day, starting before they are pregnant to help prevent NTDs.

Leafy vegetables such as spinach, turnip greens, lettuces, dried beans and peas, fortified cereal products, sunflower seeds and certain other fruits and vegetables are rich sources of folate. Some breakfast cereals are fortified with for folic acid. Folate is also found in Vegemite, with an average serving (5gm) containing 100μg. The established tolerable upper intake level (UL) for folate is 1 mg for adult men and women, and a UL of 800 µg for pregnant and lactating (breast-feeding) women less than 18 years of age.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folate#Health_risk_of_too_much_folic_acid

The U.S. Public Health Service urges every woman who could become pregnant to take 400 micrograms (400 mcg) of synthetic folic acid every day and whilst it is unlikely that women will be hurt from taking too much folic acid supplements, unless their doctor advises them to take more, most women should limit the amount they take to 1,000 mcg a day.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/folicacid/overview.htm

Information about "folic acid" from Dr. Berger's tubal reversal web site.