Upper Levels of Folate Intake

There are two potential problems associated with widespread enrichment of foods with folic acid or the indiscriminate use of folic acid supplements  

Intakes of foUc acid in excess of about 5,000 /tg per day antagonize the anticonvulsants used in treatment of epilepsy, leading to an increase in fit frequency (Section 10.9.6). 

European Union FAO, Food and Agriculture Organization WHO, World Health Organization. 

Sources Department of Health, 1991 Scientific Committee for Food, 1993 Institute of Medicine 1998 FAOAWHO, 2001. 

/Canadian upper level of folic acid intake (Institute of Medicine, 1998) is set at 1,000 /zg per day, which is considered to be unlikely to mask the development of megaloblastic anemia in elderly people. The United Kingdom (Department of Health, 2000) considered the number of people over age 50 who would be exposed to intakes greater than 1,000 /ig per day emd the number of neural tube defects that would be prevented at various levels 

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Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes and its Panel on Folate, other B vitamins, and Choline and Subcommittee on Upper Reference Levels of Nutrients. Dietary reference intakes for thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, biotin, and choline. Washington DC National Academy Press, 1998. 

Sources Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorous, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Huoride (1997) Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin 85, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline (1998) EHetary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, and Carotenoids (2000) Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc (2001) Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate (2005) and EHetary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D (2011). These reports may be accessed via www.nap.edu A Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is the highest level of daily nutrient intake that is likely to pose no risk of adverse health effects to almost all individuals in the general population. Unless otherwise specified, the UL represents total intake from food, water, and supplements. Due to a lack of suitable data, ULs could not be established for vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, biotin, and carotenoids. In the absence of a UL, extra caution may be warranted in consuming levels above recommended intakes. Members of the general population should be advised not to routinely exceed the UL. The UL is not meant to ply to individuals who are treated with the nutrient under medical supervision or to individuals with predisposing conditions that modify their sensitivity to the nutrient... 

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