What happens if you significantly increase dietary folic acid intake?

By Dr. Priyom Bose, Ph.D.Reviewed by Lily Ramsey, LLMApr 9 2025A recent survey highlighted that increased dietary intake of folic acid causes adverse health effects by promoting angiogenesis, inflammation, and neurotoxicity.Study:How Increased Dietary Folic Acid Intake Impacts Health Outcomes Through Changes in Inflammation, Angiogenesis, and Neurotoxicity. Image Credit:Danijela Maksimovic/Shutterstock.comScientists have recently reviewed the existing literature to understand the effect of increased dietary intake of folic acid on human health.This review, published in Nutrients, also summarizes the proposed mechanisms through which dietary folic acid interacts with hypoxia to influence health outcomes.The role of folic acids in humansFolates are B vitamins that play a critical role in cellular growth and development. During pregnancy, women are advised to consume adequate amounts of folic acid to help reduce the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) in the developing fetus. While the pro...