Some women have an increased risk of having a pregnancy affected by a neural tube defect and are advised to take a higher dose of 5mg of folic acid each day until they're 12 weeks pregnant.

Vitamins and minerals - B vitamins and folic acid - NHS Vitamins and minerals - B vitamins and folic acid - NHS

This is particularly a concern for older people because it becomes more difficult to absorb vitamin B12 as you get older. What does the Department of Health and Social Care advise?

UV light can destroy riboflavin, so ideally these foods should be kept out of direct sunlight. How much riboflavin do I need? The Department of Health and Social Care recommends that folic acid supplements are taken by all women who are pregnant or could get pregnant. Folic acid supplements need to be taken before you get pregnant, so start taking them before you stop using contraception or if there's a chance you might get pregnant. Adults need 200 micrograms of folate a day. A microgram is 1,000 times smaller than a milligram (mg). The word microgram is sometimes written with the Greek symbol μ followed by the letter g (μg).

reduce the risk of birth defects called neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, in unborn babies Niacin cannot be stored in the body, so you need it in your diet every day. What happens if I take too much niacin? If you're pregnant, trying for a baby, or could get pregnant, it's recommended that you take a 400 microgram folic acid supplement daily until you're 12 weeks pregnant.There's not enough evidence to know what the effects might be of taking high daily doses of pantothenic acid supplements. What does the Department of Health and Social Care advise? Riboflavin cannot be stored in the body, so you need it in your diet every day. What happens if I take too much riboflavin? Taking 17mg or less of nicotinic acid supplements a day, or 500mg or less of nicotinamide supplements a day, is unlikely to cause any harm. Pantothenic acid

Taking 0.9mg or less a day of biotin in supplements is unlikely to cause any harm. Folate and folic acid But as vitamin B12 is not found naturally in foods such as fruit, vegetables and grains, vegans may not get enough of it. Breakfast cereals are also a good source if they have been fortified with pantothenic acid. How much pantothenic acid do I need?Biotin is also found in a wide range of foods, but only at very low levels. What happens if I take too much biotin? Taking 200mg or more a day of vitamin B6 [LK2] can lead to a loss of feeling in the arms and legs known as peripheral neuropathy. There's not enough evidence to know what the effects might be of taking high daily doses of biotin supplements. What does the Department of Health and Social Care advise? There's not enough evidence to know what the effects might be of taking high daily doses of nicotinamide supplements. What does the Department of Health and Social Care advise? Pantothenic acid is found in varying amounts in almost all vegetables, wholegrain foods and meats, but good sources include: