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Original poster

5g Folic acid and Autism - Please help!

32 replies

Angeldelight21 · 15/09/2021 18:10

Ladies, I'm looking for some advice and reassurance.

I'm currently 20 weeks pregnant after undergoing fertility treatments. The clinic has prescribed me 5g Folic acid supplements for 12 weeks. I did mention that I already take prenatals but they said still to take the additional folic acid, so I didn't question it.

I'm 36, normal BMI, no epilepsy or spibal bifida in the family, good diet etc.

I came across a few articles that state that increased folic acid supplements are linked to autism.

Now I'm panicking that I have harmed my baby by taking such a high amount. I know it'ts a water soluble vitamins but can it still cause damage?

Please share your experience and thoughts on this. Thank you X

OP posts:
DominicRaabsTravelAgent · 15/09/2021 20:14

Have you got the links? I've never heard of this.

Twickerhun · 15/09/2021 20:16

How scientific are the studies? Unless they are large scale medical studies in peer reviewed medical journal take them with a pinch of salt and do what the doctors tell you.

BlueMoons90 · 15/09/2021 20:16

I took the same amount of folic acid with both my DC (and the one I'm currently pregnant with!). DS1 is 15 and doesn't have autism, DS2 is 3 and no signs of autism.

If you could link the research you've seen that would be helpful?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

2nd trimester Families General health General parenting
srh96 · 15/09/2021 20:17

Link the research.

AdriannaP · 15/09/2021 20:18

Never heard of this!! Took a high dose with DC1 and she is absolutely fine.

OP posts:
Embracelife · 15/09/2021 21:53

correlation
No causation

Need to know what else genetics etc

No biological reason to connect the vitamins with ASD
And let s say your baby has ASD ...what scares you about it?
Is there ASD in your family?

Embracelife · 15/09/2021 21:54

And you can also read the opposite

www.spectrumnews.org/news/flurry-studies-hint-folic-acids-protective-role-autism/

Mymapuddlington · 15/09/2021 21:56

I’m terrible with vitamins and stuff and don’t think I took folic acid at all with my son and he’s severely autistic.
To be honest you could Google and link autism with everything, try not to worry.

Embracelife · 15/09/2021 22:01

Why are you worried specifically about autism?
You need to be prepared for any outcome but you can only do what you can.
Your child s genetic make up is ready decided... May be clever or not so. Asd or not. Love animals or hate chess. Be good at sports or hate sports. So long as you follow medical advice you are doing fine and not doing any thing knowingly to harm your child. Ask your doctor if you concerned.

soapboxqueen · 15/09/2021 22:06

As pp said, you can link autism to pretty much anything. Just like fatigue is linked to everything from the common cold to alien induced x-ray vision. Though rarely lack of sleep 🤔

I know it's hard because you desperately want to do the best for your baby but worrying about 'what ifs' won't make any difference.

For the record, I didn't take the folic avoid because it made me feel sick. Ds is still autistic and awesome.

Original poster
Angeldelight21 · 16/09/2021 10:04

Thank you for taking the time to reply to me X

OP posts:
Marcee · 16/09/2021 10:08

Unless it was a research paper I wouldn't worry
I took high dose with both mine. They are both fine

gamerchick · 16/09/2021 10:09

Autism is genetic pretty much, if you have it in your family then it's likely you'll have undiagnosed autism in your family.

It's not caused by folic acid.

Ozanj · 16/09/2021 10:10

@Angeldelight21

Ladies, I'm looking for some advice and reassurance.

I'm currently 20 weeks pregnant after undergoing fertility treatments. The clinic has prescribed me 5g Folic acid supplements for 12 weeks. I did mention that I already take prenatals but they said still to take the additional folic acid, so I didn't question it.

I'm 36, normal BMI, no epilepsy or spibal bifida in the family, good diet etc.

I came across a few articles that state that increased folic acid supplements are linked to autism.

Now I'm panicking that I have harmed my baby by taking such a high amount. I know it'ts a water soluble vitamins but can it still cause damage?

Please share your experience and thoughts on this. Thank you X

Those studies were dismissed because it was not known whether the mums took the 5mg of folic acid they were supposed to. Think about it - if you were supposed to do something and didn’t & your baby had some health problems that might or might not be related you might lie and say you did. In many Asian countries 5mg is prescribed as standard but Autism levels are often lower than the UK / USA
MrsFin · 16/09/2021 10:12

I would say that having spinabifida would affect your child more that being autistic would.

HerRoyalRisesAgain · 16/09/2021 10:12

Autism isn't caused by vitamins. It's genetic usually. I'm autistic and have an autistic son. Nothing I did or my mum did made us autistic, we were just born that way.

Jemimapuddleduk · 16/09/2021 10:13

I took high dose folic acid with my dd, she is not autistic. I took normal dose folic acid with ds and he is autistic and FINE for those who have used that to describe their neurotypical child upthread.

Ozanj · 16/09/2021 10:25

@HerRoyalRisesAgain

Autism isn't caused by vitamins. It's genetic usually. I'm autistic and have an autistic son. Nothing I did or my mum did made us autistic, we were just born that way.
There are forms of ‘autism’ that result from birth complications (eg severe preclampsia) or birth aphyxia. Those are the types that can be prevented by medication (including higher levels of folic acid). But there’s a whole kettle of fish there in that these complications probably shouldn’t be described as autism in the first place.
Marcee · 16/09/2021 10:30

@Jemimapuddleduk

I took high dose folic acid with my dd, she is not autistic. I took normal dose folic acid with ds and he is autistic and FINE for those who have used that to describe their neurotypical child upthread.
The "fine" is in the context of autism. They have plenty of other health conditions thank you very much.

If someone posted a thread about kidney problem and a medication they took. By saying my kid is "fine" on that thread it would be about them not having kidney problems.

You dont need to take words and twist them into something they aren't.

Somethingsnappy · 16/09/2021 10:33

Autism debate aside, I don't think you're supposed to take additional folic acid if you are already taking a dose in prenatal vitamins. It should be instead. So do get a second opinion on this.

Comefromaway · 16/09/2021 10:36

I didn't take folic acid as it made me feel sick and I have two autistic children. But I also have an autistic husband, niece and it's likely myself, my mum and my father in law are all on the spectrum.

The most likely cause of autism according to the limited research we currently have is that it is genetic.

Ozanj · 16/09/2021 10:38

@Somethingsnappy

Autism debate aside, I don't think you're supposed to take additional folic acid if you are already taking a dose in prenatal vitamins. It should be instead. So do get a second opinion on this.
I’m guessing as she quoted the 5mg figure she was prescribed it for obesity / preclampsia
Marcee · 16/09/2021 10:56

You can take the 5mg alongside a prenatal vitamin.

DoucheCanoe · 16/09/2021 11:05

Autism doesn't make a person "damaged".

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