{"ok":true,"entry":{"slug":"folate","kind":"supplement","name":"folate","aliases":["folic acid","vitamin B9","methylfolate","5-MTHF"],"brands_sg":["California Gold Nutrition","Jarrow Formulas","NOW Foods","Doctor's Best","Life Extension"],"class":"vitamin","tags":["womens-health","heart"],"use_for":"dna synthesis · 400 mcg/day folic acid if pregnancy possible","use_after":"with or without food","use_duration":null,"take_with":"with adequate b12 · high folate can mask a b12 deficiency","pros":["rda 400 mcg dfe a day; 600 mcg dfe in pregnancy","folic acid around conception: fewer neural tube defects","5-mthf absorbs as well as or better than folic acid"],"cons":["ul 1,000 mcg/day folic acid · hsa cap 0.9 mg/day","lowers homocysteine but not heart attack risk in trials","high intakes can mask a b12 deficiency"],"dose_note":"rda is 400 mcg dfe a day for adults, 600 mcg dfe in pregnancy and 500 mcg dfe when breastfeeding; women who could become pregnant: 400 mcg/day folic acid from supplements or fortified foods on top of food folate; the ul of 1,000 mcg/day applies to folic acid from supplements and fortified foods, not to food folate; hsa's general-adult limit for health supplements in singapore is 0.9 mg (900 mcg) folic acid a day — higher-dose products for pregnancy or deficiency must carry a 'use under recommendations by healthcare professionals' statement","dosage":{"ul":"1,000 mcg folic acid (supplements + fortified foods, 19+)","unit":"mcg","fda_dv":"400 mcg DFE","rda_ai":"400 mcg DFE (19+) · 600 mcg DFE pregnancy · 500 mcg DFE lactation","ul_status":"established","population":"general adult","hsa_max_daily":"0.9 mg (900 mcg) folic acid"},"ul_status":"established","sg_class":null,"cautions":["pregnant or planning — rda rises to 600 mcg dfe; hsa: products above 0.9 mg for a previous neural tube defect carry a 'use under recommendations by healthcare professionals' label","low b12 or unexplained anaemia — folate can fix the anaemia but not the nerve damage of b12 deficiency; ask your doctor first","on methotrexate for cancer — folate can interfere with the drug; the oncologist decides","mthfr 677c>t — cdc still recommends 400 mcg folic acid, not 5-mthf, if you could become pregnant"],"clashes":[{"src":["nih_ods_folate_interactions"],"note":"folate antagonist; supplements could blunt its anticancer effect but may ease gi side effects of low-dose use","with":"methotrexate"},{"src":["nih_ods_folate_interactions"],"note":"lower serum folate; folate supplements may in turn lower drug levels","with":"antiepileptics (phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproate)"},{"src":["nih_ods_folate_interactions"],"note":"blocks intestinal folate absorption; can cause deficiency","with":"sulfasalazine"},{"src":["nih_ods_folate_atrisk"],"food":true,"note":"cuts absorption, speeds breakdown and raises urinary loss of folate","with":"alcohol"}],"sources":[{"id":"nih_ods_folate_intake","url":"https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-HealthProfessional/","label":"NIH ODS — Folate Fact Sheet for Health Professionals (updated November 30, 2022; read via archive.org capture, see verify_notes) — Table 1 RDAs; Groups at Risk — Women of childbearing age","quote":"19+ years 400 mcg DFE 400 mcg DFE 600 mcg DFE 500 mcg DFE … Women of childbearing age should obtain 400 mcg/day folic acid from dietary supplements and/or fortified foods in addition to the folate provided by a varied diet","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nih_ods_folate_function","url":"https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-HealthProfessional/","label":"NIH ODS — Folate Fact Sheet for Health Professionals (updated November 30, 2022; read via archive.org capture, see verify_notes) — Introduction; Folate and Health — Neural tube defects","quote":"Folate functions as a coenzyme … in single-carbon transfers in the synthesis of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and metabolism of amino acids … clinical trial evidence shows that adequate periconceptional folic acid consumption by women prevents a substantial proportion of NTDs","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nih_ods_folate_forms","url":"https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-HealthProfessional/","label":"NIH ODS — Folate Fact Sheet for Health Professionals (updated November 30, 2022; read via archive.org capture, see verify_notes) — Sources of Folate — Dietary supplements","quote":"About 85% of supplemental folic acid, when taken with food, is bioavailable … When consumed without food, nearly 100% … is bioavailable … The bioavailability of 5-MTHF in supplements is the same as or greater than that of folic acid","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nih_ods_folate_ul","url":"https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-HealthProfessional/","label":"NIH ODS — Folate Fact Sheet for Health Professionals (updated November 30, 2022; read via archive.org capture, see verify_notes) — Health Risks from Excessive Folate; Table 3 ULs","quote":"(ULs) for Folate from Supplements or Fortified Foods … 19+ years 1,000 mcg … Large amounts of folate can correct the megaloblastic anemia, but not the neurological damage, that can result from vitamin B12 deficiency … might mask vitamin B12 deficiency","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nih_ods_folate_cvd","url":"https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-HealthProfessional/","label":"NIH ODS — Folate Fact Sheet for Health Professionals (updated November 30, 2022; read via archive.org capture, see verify_notes) — Folate and Health — Cardiovascular disease and stroke","quote":"Folic acid (and vitamin B12) supplements lower homocysteine levels. However, these supplements do not actually decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease, although they appear to provide protection from stroke","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nih_ods_folate_interactions","url":"https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-HealthProfessional/","label":"NIH ODS — Folate Fact Sheet for Health Professionals (updated November 30, 2022; read via archive.org capture, see verify_notes) — Interactions with Medications","quote":"Methotrexate … is a folate antagonist … the supplements could interfere with methotrexate’s anticancer effects … Antiepileptic medications … can reduce serum folate levels … folate supplements might reduce serum levels of these medications … Sulfasalazine … inhibits the intestinal absorption of folate","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"nih_ods_folate_atrisk","url":"https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-HealthProfessional/","label":"NIH ODS — Folate Fact Sheet for Health Professionals (updated November 30, 2022; read via archive.org capture, see verify_notes) — Groups at Risk — alcohol use disorder; MTHFR polymorphism","quote":"alcohol interferes with folate absorption and hepatic uptake, accelerates folate breakdown, and increases its renal excretion … (CDC) recommends 400 mcg/day of folic acid, not 5-MTHF, for people who could become pregnant, even if they have a 677C>T MTHFR polymorphism","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"fda_dv","url":"https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-facts-label/daily-value-nutrition-and-supplement-facts-labels","label":"FDA — Daily Value on the Nutrition and Supplement Facts Labels, Reference Guide: Daily Values for Nutrients (content current as of 03/05/2024)","quote":"DVs are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume or not to exceed each day … Folate/Folic Acid … 400mcg DFE","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hsa_hs_guidelines","url":"https://file.go.gov.sg/hsa-hs-guidelines.pdf","label":"HSA Singapore — Health Supplements Guidelines GL-CHPB-3-001 Rev. No. 020, January 2026 — clause 4.8, Table 4 Vitamins Limits, clause 4.11 + List of Health Claims","quote":"HS for use by the general adult population should not contain vitamins and minerals exceeding the stipulated limits … Folic acid 0.9mg … Contribute to normal homocysteine metabolism • Folic acid, vitamin B6, B12 … Increase maternal folate status • Folic acid","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"hsa_prohibited","url":"https://file.go.gov.sg/hsa-chp-prohibited-restricted-ing-guidelines.pdf","label":"HSA Singapore — Guidelines on Prohibited and Restricted Ingredients in Health Supplements and Traditional Medicines GL-CHPB-1-012 Rev. No. 001, October 2025 — Annex A row 47","quote":"47. Folic acid … not provide more than 0.9mg … When for oral use by pregnant women to prevent against recurrence of neural tube defects or for patients with folic acid deficiency … “This product must be used under recommendations by healthcare professionals.”","accessed":"2026-08-27"},{"id":"iherb_sg","url":"https://sg.iherb.com/c/folic-acid","label":"iHerb Singapore — category page Vitamin B9 (Folate - Folic Acid), default order, 130 results","quote":"California Gold Nutrition, Folinic Acid, Alcohol Free … Jarrow Formulas, Vegan Methyl Folate, 400 mcg … NOW Foods, Folic Acid, 250 Tablets … Doctor's Best, Fully Active Folate 400, 400 mcg … Life Extension, BioActive Folate & Vitamin B12","accessed":"2026-08-27"}],"brand_certs":null,"updated_at":"2026-08-29T16:16:19.87501+08:00"},"disclaimer":"kozen-x is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. it lists what published sources have written down. absence of a record is not the same as safe."}